Huge delivery costs running up to USD2000 doubles pain for Kenyan parents

Nairobi boasts some of the most expensive charges of giving birth that were it possible some babies would just choose to return back to their warm and cosy wombs.
The average cost of delivering a baby in Kenya’s top hospitals has risen to a new high of Sh205,500 ($2,055), a 13 percent increase from Sh181,111 ($1,811) two years ago.

Apart from being the most expensive place to buy a meal in Africa, Kenya’s capital is also one of the most places one can give birth at.

Nairobi boasts some of the most expensive charges of giving birth that were it possible some babies would just choose to return back to their warm and cosy wombs and be free from all the pains of living at the city in the sun.

The average cost of delivering a baby in Kenya’s top hospitals has risen to a new high of Sh205,500 ($2,055), a 13 percent increase from Sh181,111 ($1,811) two years ago, according to the latest market data.

According to Dr. Nelly Bosire, a Gynaecologist & Obstetrician, the high costs out of reach for millions of Kenyans have been brought about by high taxes that have led to an increase in the pricing of health services, especially with the frequent exchange rates fluctuation.

“We import nearly all medical commodities and that means there are outside factors beyond our control. Prices of almost all products have been rising and the private entities have to meet their costs,” she told a local business daily.

The Gynecologist explained that maternity services are priced in line with the cost of drugs, doctor fees and other services and any slight price increase in these segments leads to an overall rise in charges.

Here are just some of the most expensive hospitals in Nairobi and their charges.

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The cost of normal delivery in the general wards at Karen Hospital is Sh110,000 after rising from Sh100,000 while Caesarean section deliveries now cost Sh200,000 in the general wards up from Sh180,000 two years ago.

Those booked in private rooms must part with Sh140,000 for normal delivery while a private room for Caesarean section costs Sh230,000 for patients staying up to three nights.

Nairobi South Hospital now charges Sh100,000 for normal delivery from Sh35,000 it used to charge just two years ago, a C-section in the hospital now costs Sh120,000.

A C-section at Nairobi’s MP Shah Hospital costs Sh220,000 but increases to Sh250,000 if the appointment is booked after 32 weeks of pregnancy.

A normal delivery at the hospital costs Sh99,000, but the hospital charges Sh150,000 if a woman books an appointment to deliver at the hospital when she is past 32 weeks pregnant.

Delivering in public hospitals is not any cheaper either, a Caesarean section at Kenyatta National Hospital costs between Sh150,000 to Sh200,000.

Avenue Hospital is perhaps the cheapest as it charges Sh50,000 for normal delivery, Sh5000 less than it used to charge in 2016. Caesarean section delivery costs Sh190,000 up from Sh165,000 in 2016 while an emergency C-section can cost up to Sh210,000.