The Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (CGTRH) has addressed the tragic incident involving a patient who died by suicide within the hospital premises under unclear circumstances.
In a statement on Tuesday, March 25, CGTRH CEO Dr. Iqbal Khandwalla clarified that the deceased was a homeless individual with a known history of mental illness.
He had been admitted for the treatment of septic arthritis, and his care was progressing well.
Dr. Khandwalla dismissed speculation that the patient took his life due to distress over unpaid medical bills, stating that the issue of outstanding hospital fees did not arise in this case.
“The patient had a known history of mental illness, which had been previously noted by both our medical team and local authorities,” Khandwalla said.
He further explained that the medical team, including mental health professionals, had been providing counselling and psychosocial support throughout the patient’s admission.
The hospital has reported the incident to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, which is now handling the case.
According to reports, the patient was found inside Ward 8, where he had been recuperating after surgery.
Witnesses in the ward claimed he had previously expressed concerns about being abandoned by his family and was struggling emotionally.
A patient in the same ward recounted that the deceased had spoken about his financial struggles and had even mentioned self-harm.
“He was admitted on March 19 after undergoing surgery on his right ribs. On Saturday, he said his family had abandoned him and threatened to take his life,” the witness said.
It is reported that the patient used a nylon rope tied to a metal bar above his hospital bed to end his life.
The incident comes nearly two months after a similar case at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where a patient was found dead inside a ward under unclear circumstances on the night of February 6, 2025.
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