Mater Hospital Nairobi: Services, Contacts & Medical Centres

Mater Misericordiae Hospital, commonly known as Mater Hospital Nairobi, is a Catholic faith-based hospital providing emergency, inpatient, surgical, cardiac, maternity, diagnostic and specialist healthcare.

The hospital is located along Dunga Road in South B, Nairobi. It operates continuously and has a published inpatient capacity of 176 beds, six operating rooms and an 18-bed intensive-care and high-dependency unit.

Mater Hospital is especially known for its cardiac programme and the annual Mater Heart Run, which raises funds to support children and other patients who cannot afford heart procedures.

About Mater Misericordiae Hospital

Mater Misericordiae Hospital was established in 1962 by the Sisters of Mercy, a Catholic religious congregation with roots in Ireland.

The hospital’s mission is based on the Sisters of Mercy’s tradition of serving patients regardless of race, colour, creed or economic background. Its healthcare model combines clinical treatment with pastoral care, counselling and support for vulnerable patients.

The South B facility has expanded from a community hospital into a major referral institution supported by specialist clinics, outpatient medical centres, satellite laboratories and the Catherine McAuley Nursing School.

Mater Hospital’s current management page identifies Sr. Dr. Mary Ngui as chief executive officer.

Mater Hospital Company Profile

The official inpatient page confirms the 176-bed capacity, six operating rooms and an ICU and high-dependency unit with a combined capacity of 18 beds.

Emergency and Accident Care

Mater Hospital operates a 24-hour Accident and Emergency Department for adults and children requiring urgent medical attention.

The department handles conditions such as:

• Serious injuries
• Road-traffic accidents
• Sudden severe illness
• Chest pain
• Breathing difficulties
• Suspected stroke
• Severe abdominal pain
• Pregnancy emergencies
• Pediatric emergencies
• Other potentially life-threatening conditions

The hospital publishes the following emergency contacts:

Call centre: 0719 073 000

Alternative line: 0732 163 000

Accident and Emergency direct line: 0719 073 051

The main hospital and emergency services operate throughout the week, including Sundays and public holidays.

Patients with severe or rapidly worsening symptoms should seek emergency medical assessment immediately instead of waiting for a scheduled clinic.

Cardiac Programme

Mater Hospital’s cardiac programme coordinates diagnosis and treatment for patients with congenital and acquired heart conditions.

The programme serves both paying patients and people who require financial support through the Mater Heart Fund.

Published cardiac services include:

• Cardiac consultations
• Diagnostic assessment
• Cardiac catheterization
• Cardiac surgery
• Coordination of visiting specialist teams
• Rheumatic-fever screening
• Follow-up care
• Patient enrolment in the Mater Heart Fund

The programme began during the 1990s after the hospital identified limited regional access to diagnosis and treatment for children with serious heart conditions.

Patients should contact the cardiac team to confirm specialist schedules, referral requirements, waiting times and financial-support eligibility.

Mater Heart Run

The Mater Heart Run is an annual fundraising event supporting the hospital’s cardiac programme.

It began in 2002 and has grown from an event held only in Nairobi into a national initiative hosted in several Kenyan towns.

According to Mater Hospital, funds raised through the programme have contributed to more than 5,000 heart procedures. Most were performed at Mater Hospital by Kenyan specialists, while selected patients were treated by visiting teams or referred elsewhere.

The 2026 Mater Heart Run was scheduled for May 23, 2026, in 11 locations:

• Nairobi
• Mombasa
• Machakos
• Kakamega
• Kisumu
• Nakuru
• Eldoret
• Nyeri
• Kericho
• Bomet
• Kirinyaga

Mater Heart Fund Donations

M-Pesa Paybill: 6556555

Account name: Donor’s name

Bank account name: Mater Hospital Heart Fund

NCBA account number: 1188600604

Heart Run contacts:

0732 163 085

0719 073 013

0793 310 053

Email: [email protected]

These donation details appear on the hospital’s official Mater Heart Run page. Donors should nevertheless confirm the payment information on the official website before transferring money.

Inpatient Services

Mater Hospital admits patients requiring surgery, continuous treatment, medical observation or specialist care.

The hospital offers several room categories, including:

• General wards
• Private rooms
• En-suite rooms
• Intensive-care beds
• High-dependency beds

Room facilities differ by category. The hospital states that private and en-suite rooms include additional amenities, while general wards provide shared facilities.

Admission depends on clinical need, bed availability, payment arrangements and insurance or SHA authorization where applicable.

Intensive and High-Dependency Care

The intensive-care unit was commissioned in 1995 and provides support for critically ill patients.

The combined ICU and high-dependency facility has 18 beds. The high-dependency section supports patients transitioning from intensive care and those who need closer monitoring than an ordinary ward can provide.

Critical-care treatment may be required following:

• Major surgery
• Severe infection
• Serious injury
• Respiratory failure
• Heart complications
• Other life-threatening conditions

Visiting arrangements for ICU and HDU patients may be more restrictive than general ward hours.

Surgical Services

Mater Hospital has six operating rooms equipped to handle major and minor surgical procedures.

Depending on specialist availability, procedures may include:

• General surgery
• Cardiac surgery
• Orthopedic surgery
• Gynecological surgery
• Urological procedures
• Pediatric surgery
• Ear, nose and throat surgery
• Other specialist operations

Patients arranging elective surgery should request a detailed estimate covering:

• Hospital charges
• Surgeon’s fees
• Anesthetist’s fees
• Theatre expenses
• Medication
• Diagnostic tests
• Implants or medical devices
• Room charges
• Follow-up care

Maternity and Women’s Health

Mater Hospital provides pregnancy, childbirth and gynecological services.

Available care may include:

• Antenatal consultations
• Pregnancy monitoring
• Labor and delivery
• Cesarean delivery
• High-risk pregnancy care
• Postnatal treatment
• Gynecology consultations
• Newborn support
• Child-welfare clinics
• Family-planning services

The hospital’s outpatient directory identifies maternity care as one of its principal services.

Maternity costs depend on the consultant, type of delivery, room category, length of admission and whether the mother or baby requires additional treatment.

Renal Unit and Dialysis

The hospital operates a renal unit providing hemodialysis for patients with acute or chronic kidney disease.

Dialysis is available to both admitted and outpatient patients who require renal-replacement treatment.

Patients should confirm:

• Dialysis appointment times
• Nephrologist availability
• Required laboratory tests
• Medical records needed
• Insurance authorization
• Emergency dialysis procedures

Laboratory Services

The Mater Hospital main laboratory provides services 24 hours a day.

It is accredited to ISO 15189, an international standard covering the quality and competence of medical laboratories.

Laboratory services may include:

• Routine blood tests
• Clinical chemistry
• Hematology
• Microbiology
• Histopathology
• Immunohematology
• Blood-bank services
• Specialized testing

The hospital also operates seven satellite laboratories at its clinics in Development House, Buruburu, Kasarani, Shujaa, Westlands, Thika and Karen.

Some tests require fasting, a doctor’s request or other preparation.

Blood Bank and Blood Donation

The main laboratory operates a 24-hour blood bank supporting patients who require transfusions.

Available blood products may include:

• Whole blood
• Packed red blood cells
• Fresh frozen plasma
• Platelets
• Cryoprecipitate

The hospital encourages voluntary blood donation through its donor programme.

Potential donors must undergo screening to determine whether they are eligible to donate safely.

Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology

Mater Hospital provides diagnostic imaging to support emergency care, surgery, maternity services and specialist treatment.

Services may include:

• X-ray
• Ultrasound
• CT imaging
• Mammography
• Other specialist scans

The precise imaging options, preparation requirements and operating hours should be confirmed when booking.

Pharmacy Services

The hospital operates pharmacies for inpatient and outpatient customers.

Patients can present a valid prescription issued outside the hospital, although insurance customers may need a completed and authorized claim form.

Medicine availability, insurance approval and pharmacy hours can vary between locations.

Dental Care

Mater Hospital’s dental clinic provides services to adults and children.

Available treatment may include:

• Dental examinations
• Cleaning
• Fillings
• Extractions
• Preventive care
• Other dental procedures

The dental service is included in the hospital’s official outpatient-services directory.

Appointments and specialist dental procedures should be confirmed in advance.

Physiotherapy

The hospital operates a physiotherapy unit staffed by qualified therapists.

Physiotherapy may assist patients recovering from:

• Surgery
• Fractures
• Sports injuries
• Neurological conditions
• Joint problems
• Muscular pain
• Mobility limitations

The hospital describes the unit as modern and equipped to provide rehabilitation and physical treatment.

Counselling and Pastoral Care

As a Catholic mission hospital, Mater incorporates pastoral and psychosocial support into patient care.

Its pastoral-care directorate includes:

• Chaplaincy
• Mission services
• Counselling
• Family-life programmes
• Arts in medicine

These services support patients and families who require spiritual, emotional or social assistance during treatment.

Clinical care is available to patients regardless of their religious background.

Catherine McAuley Nursing School

Mater Hospital operates the Catherine McAuley Nursing School, which provides nursing education and professional training.

The hospital describes it as a training institution focused on nursing education, innovation, research and professionalism in Africa.

Prospective students should use current school materials to confirm:

• Programmes available
• Admission requirements
• Application deadlines
• Fees
• Accreditation
• Clinical-placement arrangements

Mater Hospital Medical Centres

Mater Hospital’s online information contains some inconsistencies about the number of outpatient centres. Its FAQ lists five centres in addition to the main hospital, while other current pages identify additional locations such as Shujaa and Karen.

The listing should therefore describe a network of outpatient medical centres rather than permanently stating that the hospital has exactly five branches.

Main Hospital

Location: Dunga Road, South B, Nairobi

Telephone: 0719 073 000 or 0732 163 000

Landline: 020 690 3000

Development House Medical Centre

Location: First Floor, Development House, Moi Avenue at Tom Mboya Street, Nairobi CBD

The centre provides convenient outpatient access in central Nairobi.

Kasarani Medical Centre

Location: Second Floor, Thika Road Mall

Telephone: 0726 433 179 or 0732 163 900

Published hours:

Monday–Saturday: 8:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m.

Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m.

Buruburu Medical Centre

Location: First Floor, Fairlane Building, Buruburu

Telephone: 0719 888 444 or 0733 809 916

Published hours:

Monday–Saturday: 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

Sunday: 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

Westlands Medical Centre

Location: Westlands Square, Second Floor, Ring Road Parklands

Telephone: 0732 163 800 or 0714 660 862

Published hours:

Monday–Saturday: 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

Shujaa Medical Centre

Location: Second Floor, Shujaa Mall, Spine Road

Telephone: 0719 073 500 or 0734 300 333

Published hours:

Monday–Saturday: 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Published services include consultations, laboratory testing, pharmacy, imaging, antenatal care, vaccination and selected specialist clinics.

Karen Medical Centre

Location: The Well, Karen–Lang’ata Road

Telephone: 0733 666 002 or 0793 304 951

Published hours:

Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

Saturday: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Sunday: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Thika Medical Centre

The hospital’s FAQ lists a Thika centre and historical contact numbers. However, the location is described using an older supermarket landmark that may no longer be reliable.

Patients should confirm the current address and operating status directly with Mater Hospital before travelling.

Main Hospital Opening Hours

The main Mater Hospital operates continuously.

Emergency, inpatient and laboratory services remain available around the clock. Specialist clinics, outpatient centres and administrative departments may follow separate schedules.

SHA and Medical Insurance

Older Mater Hospital information refers to NHIF, but Kenya transitioned from NHIF to the Social Health Authority in October 2024.

Current hospital recruitment material refers to checking insurance and SHA eligibility and obtaining preauthorizations before admission, indicating that SHA processes are part of the hospital’s current patient-administration workflow.

Patients should confirm directly:

• Whether Mater Hospital is currently empaneled for the required service
• Whether a referral is necessary
• Whether prior authorization is required
• Whether the doctor’s fees are covered
• Whether laboratory and imaging charges are included
• Whether medication is covered
• Whether the selected room category is included
• Whether a co-payment or deposit applies

The hospital also works with private medical insurers and corporate schemes, subject to the policy’s provider network and limits.

Mater Hospital Contact Information

Physical Address

Mater Misericordiae Hospital
Dunga Road
South B, Nairobi, Kenya

Some older materials refer to the hospital as being at the junction of Mukenia and Dunga roads. The official current contact page describes the address as along Dunga Road in South B.

Postal Address

P.O. Box 30325-00100
Nairobi, Kenya

Call Centre

0719 073 000

0732 163 000

020 690 3000

Accident and Emergency

0719 073 051

General Email

[email protected]

Feedback Email

[email protected]

Official Website

materkenya.com

The hospital’s contact page currently publishes 0719 073 000 and 0732 163 000 as its main telephone numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Mater Hospital located?

Mater Misericordiae Hospital is located along Dunga Road in South B, Nairobi.

Is Mater Hospital open 24 hours?

Yes. The main hospital and emergency services operate 24 hours a day, including weekends and public holidays.

What is the Mater Hospital emergency number?

The direct Accident and Emergency number is 0719 073 051. The call-centre numbers are 0719 073 000 and 0732 163 000.

Who is the CEO of Mater Hospital?

Sr. Dr. Mary Ngui is the hospital’s chief executive officer.

How many beds does Mater Hospital have?

The hospital’s official website lists a capacity of 176 beds.

Does Mater Hospital perform heart surgery?

Yes. Its cardiac programme provides cardiac assessment, catheterization and surgery. It also coordinates assistance for eligible patients through the Mater Heart Fund.

What is the Mater Heart Run?

The Mater Heart Run is an annual fundraiser launched in 2002 to support patients requiring cardiac procedures. The programme has contributed to more than 5,000 heart procedures, according to the hospital.

How can I donate to the Mater Heart Fund?

The official M-Pesa Paybill is 6556555, using the donor’s name as the account reference. Donors should confirm the details on Mater Hospital’s official site before payment.

Does Mater Hospital accept SHA?

The hospital’s current administrative materials refer to verifying SHA eligibility before admission. Patients should contact Mater and SHA to confirm whether their particular treatment is covered and authorized.

Does Mater Hospital accept private insurance?

The hospital works with medical insurance schemes, but acceptance depends on the insurer, provider panel, benefit limits and authorization requirements.

Does Mater Hospital provide dialysis?

Yes. The renal unit provides hemodialysis for both inpatient and outpatient patients with acute or chronic kidney disease.

Does Mater Hospital have outpatient branches?

Yes. Mater operates outpatient medical centres in Nairobi, including locations in the CBD, Kasarani, Buruburu, Westlands, Shujaa and Karen. Customers should confirm each centre’s current address and services before visiting.

Does Mater Hospital have a nursing school?

Yes. The Catherine McAuley Nursing School provides nursing education and professional training.

Why Patients Choose Mater Hospital

Mater Hospital combines Catholic mission values with emergency medicine, cardiac care, surgery, maternity services, diagnostics and outpatient treatment.

Its principal strengths include:

• Twenty-four-hour emergency care
• A specialist cardiac programme
• The Mater Heart Fund
• Intensive and high-dependency care
• Six operating rooms
• Maternity and newborn services
• Renal dialysis
• ISO 15189-accredited laboratory services
• Satellite laboratories
• Outpatient centres across Nairobi
• Nursing education
• Pastoral and counselling support

Patients planning non-emergency treatment should confirm the relevant specialist’s availability, request a current cost estimate and verify SHA or private-insurance authorization before admission.

For emergency assistance, call 0719 073 051 or visit the main hospital along Dunga Road in South B.

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