Outstanding Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna has called for the criminalization of the denial of emergency medical treatment and the retention of bodies by health facilities over unpaid bills, terming the practices inhumane and unconstitutional.
Speaking on February 11, 2026, Nguna said no Kenyan should be denied life-saving treatment due to financial constraints, emphasizing that access to emergency healthcare is a constitutional right that must be protected at all times.
He further condemned the continued detention of deceased persons in hospitals and mortuaries because of unsettled medical bills, describing the practice as unjust to grieving families.
The legislator urged lawmakers and relevant authorities to enact strict legal measures that would make it a criminal offence for any health facility to deny emergency treatment or withhold bodies over unpaid fees.
Nguna maintained that protecting the dignity and rights of patients and their families must remain a priority within Kenya’s healthcare system.
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