By Sandra Blessings
In a move aimed at strengthening coordination, accountability and efficiency in service delivery, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) commissioned its Hospital Management Committees for this financial year.
This was aimed at strengthening coordination, accountability, and efficiency in the delivery of specialised healthcare services.
The committees, which include technical and professional experts from across the hospital, will support the Executive Management in implementing the hospital’s strategic priorities, policies, and annual work plans.
Speaking during an inaugural meeting with the newly appointed chairpersons of the various committees, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of JOOTRH, Dr Joshua Clinton Okise, told of the importance of the committees in driving institutional performance and ensuring that management decisions translate into tangible improvements in patient care.
“The chairpersons should take full responsibility for their respective mandates and ensure that their committees become effective platforms for identifying challenges, providing technical advice and proposing practical solutions,” he said.
He particularly emphasised the need for the committees to understand and adhere to their Terms of Reference (TORs) and objectives, noting that their work should be aligned with the hospital’s strategic plan, approved annual work plans, applicable laws and regulations, Ministry of Health policies and professional standards.
The committees are expected to provide technical and professional advice to management, monitor performance within their respective mandates and identify institutional, operational, clinical and financial risks, together with appropriate mitigation measures.
They will also play a critical role in promoting quality, efficiency, accountability and value for money while ensuring compliance with relevant policies, standards and regulatory requirements.
According to the approved Terms of Reference, the committees will further monitor the implementation of management decisions and committee resolutions, promote evidence-based decision-making and strengthen coordination between departments and directorates.
“The committees must move beyond meetings to measurable action, with their deliberations contributing directly to improved service delivery, patient safety, institutional performance and achievement of JOOTRH’s strategic objectives.
The committees will also be expected to identify gaps in service delivery and recommend corrective action, while supporting continuous quality improvement and innovation across the hospital,” he said.
He directed the chairpersons to ensure effective reporting, with the committees expected to prepare periodic reports for consideration by the CEO and Executive Management Committee.
The establishment and commissioning of the committees comes at a critical period for JOOTRH as the hospital continues to expand its role as a national teaching and referral facility and strengthen its capacity to provide specialised healthcare services.
The committees are therefore expected to serve as an important link between technical teams and executive management, providing structured mechanisms for problem-solving, performance monitoring, risk management and implementation of institutional priorities.
The move reinforces JOOTRH’s commitment to good governance, accountability, transparency, effective internal controls and improved clinical and operational outcomes as the hospital implements its 2026/2027 work plan.
