Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital to launch regional diagnostic hub

KENYA—Nakuru County residents will soon access world-class medical diagnostic services following the installation of cutting-edge laboratory equipment at the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital (NCRTH).

The hospital has acquired an advanced Atellica Solution machine and a sophisticated Haematology system that will revolutionize how medical tests are conducted in the region.

Elsmed, the supplier and installer of this high-tech equipment, has brought capabilities that will fundamentally transform healthcare delivery in the county.

The Atellica Solution machine provides comprehensive diagnostic testing for multiple critical health conditions.

Medical professionals will now conduct tests for liver function, kidney function, cardiac markers, and tumour markers directly at the facility.

The Haematology machine complements this capacity by specializing in blood-related diagnoses, including conditions such as anaemia and leukaemia.

The impact of this technological advancement extends beyond mere equipment acquisition.

Patients who previously had to send their specialized samples to private laboratories or travel to facilities in Nairobi will now receive these services locally.

This change addresses two major challenges that have long plagued healthcare seekers in the region: the financial burden of specialized testing and the frustrating wait times for critical results.

The cost savings for patients will be substantial, as they will no longer need to pay premium prices charged by private laboratories or incur travel expenses to Nairobi.

The reduction in turnaround time means that doctors can make faster diagnoses and begin appropriate treatment sooner, potentially saving lives in critical cases.

The technical specifications of the new equipment demonstrate its capability to handle high volumes efficiently.

Once the haematology system becomes fully automated, it will process over 1,200 tests per hour.

This remarkable throughput will dramatically increase the laboratory’s efficiency and its ability to serve not only NCRTH patients but also specimens from other health facilities across the county and surrounding regions.

County Executive Committee Member for Health, Roselyn Mungai, visited the laboratory today to assess the installation progress.

During her inspection, she emphasized the urgency of completing the project and called upon the Elsmed team to accelerate both the installation process and the training component.

Her visit underscored the county government’s commitment to ensuring that residents benefit from this investment as quickly as possible.

The engineers working on-site have provided a clear timeline for the project’s completion.

They confirmed that the technical installation will be finished by February 2, 2026.

Following the equipment setup, laboratory staff will undergo comprehensive training on operating and maintaining the machines, ensuring the hospital can sustain these services long-term.

Ramadhan Musa, the County Medical Laboratory Coordinator, highlighted the broader implications of this development.

He explained that the new equipment will position NCRTH as a regional diagnostic center capable of serving health facilities throughout Nakuru County and beyond.

The improved test volumes and reduced turnaround times will enable the hospital to offer specialized diagnostic services that were previously unavailable in the region.