Child delivery costs in Kenya: The average cost of delivering a child at any of Kenya’s private hospitals has now skyrocketed to sh. 200,000.
According to a report that appeared in a local newspaper on Wednesday, this is a rise from the Sh. 181,111 cost two years ago.
“An AON Kenya Insurance Brokers market report shows that the cost of normal and Caesarean section deliveries rose 30 per cent in major hospitals such as Karen, MP Shah and Avenue in the past couple of years,” the daily reports.
At Karen Hospital, the cost of normal delivery has risen from Sh. 100,000 to Sh. 110,000 in the general wards while Caesarean section deliveries now cost Sh. 200,000 in the general wards up from Sh. 180,000. “Those booked in private rooms pay Sh. 140,000 for normal delivery while a private room for Caesarean section costs Sh. 230,000 for patients staying up to three nights. Nairobi South Hospital made the highest price leap at Sh. 100,00 for normal delivery from Sh. 35,000 in 2016, while a C-section now costs Sh. 120,000. Kenyatta National Hospital did not escape the surge in prices in the referral care unit where a Caesarean section now costs between Sh. 150,000 to Sh. 200,000,” the report says.
The paper further says that at Nairobi’s MP Shah Hospital a C-section costs Sh. 220,000, but escalates to Sh. 250,000 if appointment is booked after 32 weeks of pregnancy. A normal delivery costs Sh. 99,000, but the hospital charges Sh. 150,000 if a woman books an appointment to deliver at the hospital when she is past 32 weeks pregnant. Avenue Hospital which levied the lowest fees of Sh. 55,000 for normal delivery in 2016 is now offering the same services at Sh. 50,000. Caesarean section delivery now costs Sh. 190,000 up from Sh. 165,000 in 2016 while an emergency C-section can cost up to Sh. 210,000.
Below is the full price breakdown as published by the Business Daily.
Child delivery costs in Kenya
| HOSPITAL | NORMAL DELIVERY COST (Sh) | _ | CAESERIAN SECTION | _ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2018 | 2016 | 2018 | |
| Aga Khan Hospital Nairobi | 120,000 | 150,000 | 220,000 | 280,000 |
| Mater Hospital | 80,000 | 80,000 | 200,000 | 220,000 |
| M.P. Shah Hospital | 95,000 | 120,000 | 210,000 | 220,000 |
| Karen Hospital | 100,000 | 130,000 | 180,000 | 230,000 |
| Nairobi Hospital | 180,000 | 220,000 | ||
| Nairobi Womens Hospital | 64,000 | 64,000 | 145,000 | 145,000 |
| Coptic Hospital | 40,000 | 45,000 | 110,000 | 120,000 |
| Avenue hospital | 55,000 | 60,000 | 165,000 | 220,000 |
| Nairobi west hospital | 60,000 | 60,000 | 180,000 | 220,000 |
| Nairobi South Medical Centre Ltd. | 35,000 | 80,000 | 220,000 | 180,000 |
| AVERAGE | 72,111 | 96,900 | 181,111 | 205,500 |
