Is 600,000/= too much for monthly ambulance leases?

So, while we were away, Red Cross was busy scheming how to make an extra coin. I know it's a capitalistic economy and all but I wonder;

-shouldn't such a deal have been subjected to open tendering as per the provisions of Pucblic Procurement and Disposal Act?

-what are the benefits of such an arrangement as opposed to buying and owning the ambulances? Yaani, is a cost-benefit analysis in favor of such a deal?

-how does this compare with international best standards?

-the health sector unions have in the past pushed for establishment of a National Ambulance Service. Wouldn't that be a better and more beneficial idea?

Etc etc.

I m I the only one thinking that an ambulance is just a car. For 600K, if I was a gavna, I would buy some old Mat and convert it to an ambulance. In a year I will be boasting of owning 12 ambualnces.and they will be all operational as its not like the ambulance is always in use.

Leasing a single ambulance for 600k a month!

A brand new 2013/14 Toyota Hiace KDH fashioned into an ambulance would cost approx 5.7 million (CRSP). Add 500k for a stretcher, paint job, sirens etc.

It takes only 10 months for the Red Cross to recoup their 6.2 million per ambulance investment! And if they import the vehicles using their Non-Profit status, they buy the ambulances cheaper since they do not pay duty.

This is the WORST deal I have EVER heard about!!!

Yani even red cross is looking for an opportunity to eat or what? Maybe a better deal would have been they import jointly owned ambulances with red cross. County govt pays up for import cost n red cross negotiates to have them bought at a lower cost due to their status. Then they ensure all the counties are on board. Thus in one year or there about, there would be an ambulance at every corner of this country. Red cross would then enter an MOU with the counties to have all the ambulances branded Red Cross and they should be at the red cross's disposal anytime Red Cross want to use them for an emergency. After all, the same people Red Cross serves in case of an issue are the same people county govts are serving.

Ksh 20,000 per day...phew! Sad that county govts have no problem splashing on brand new prados @6m but can't afford used ambulances @2m.

In all this, one thing still baffles me: How much would it cost us to establish and fund a national ambulance service?

This is just too much...

Red Cross is predominantly an NGO. Don't blame them for responding to market forces to ensure that their business model is at least self-sustaining. That's like saying that the Boma Hotel should charge less than other similarly rated and located hotels! As for the Counties, it is entirely THEIR responsibility to decide whether or not to source their own ambulances or to lease. My suspicion is that their appalling budgeting process left them in a situation where they had NO cash for provision of Emergency Services....yet they had INSISTED on IMMEDIATE devolution of Health Services, but don't have the balance sheet to take on ambulances as assets on their books this financial year.

Where did you get that figure from?

I think he took 600/- and divided with 12 months, because he did not get time to read the article and/or understand it. ITS 600K/- PER MONTH @MATATUMAN!!!!!