The Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital has suspended its Chief Executive Officer, Iqbal Khandwalla, over concerns surrounding his conduct and overall job performance.
In a statement issued on Sunday, February 22, the office of the Mombasa County Secretary said the hospital’s board arrived at the decision during a special meeting convened to address operational challenges that have eroded public confidence in the facility.
The board pointed to governance shortcomings and strained stakeholder relations, noting that these issues had adversely affected the hospital’s leadership and its engagement with the community.
Iqbal Khandwalla Suspended as CGTRH Reviews Leadership Conduct. Photo: Courtesy.
It further emphasised the hospital’s critical role in the county’s healthcare delivery system, highlighting the need to uphold institutional stability, transparency and public trust.
Khandwalla will stay on suspension pending the conclusion of a comprehensive governance review aimed at assessing the hospital’s leadership and operational framework.
In the interim, Sood Mohamed has been appointed to take over as acting Chief Executive Officer at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The development comes more than a year after the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital addressed the circumstances surrounding the death of a patient who died by suicide while undergoing treatment at the facility.
In a statement dated Monday, March 24, 2025, then CEO Iqbal Khandwalla confirmed the incident and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.
The hospital explained that the deceased was a homeless individual admitted for treatment of septic arthritis and was still under active medical care at the time of his death.
CGTRH further clarified that the patient had not been discharged and dismissed claims linking the incident to an outstanding hospital bill, maintaining that no such issue had arisen.
The hospital revealed that the patient had a documented history of mental illness, acknowledged by both medical staff and local authorities. During his stay, CGTRH said its team, including mental health professionals, provided counselling and psychosocial support as part of his care plan.
Despite these efforts, the patient made decisions that ultimately resulted in the loss of his life.
