Nairobi: Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Health, Aden Duale, has inaugurated the new Council of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), chaired by Prof. Namenya Were, marking a renewed focus on strengthening Kenya’s health regulatory framework. Speaking in his office in Nairobi, Duale emphasized the Council’s central role in safeguarding quality, safety, and ethical practice across the health sector, aligning with Universal Health Coverage and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
According to Kenya News Agency, Duale stressed the importance of strict adherence to performance contracts, which include clear targets, effective monitoring, and timely delivery. He highlighted ongoing reforms such as the development of a clear Scope of Practice to ensure professionals operate within defined competencies, thereby enhancing patient safety and accountability.
Duale noted the alignment of these initiatives with the joint health and education working group aimed at improving training and positioning Kenya within the global health workforce ecosystem. Additionally, he pointed to the progress on the Healthcare Professionals Policy, which aims to improve coordination, workforce planning, and service delivery. The Quality of Care and Patient Safety Bill, currently before Parliament, is expected to further enhance regulation and healthcare standards.
The Health CS urged the Council to actively engage in these reforms and to adopt a collaborative, whole-of-government approach with counties, training institutions, professional bodies, and regulators. He emphasized the need for transparency, accountability, and good governance throughout the process.
The ceremony was attended by Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Ms. Mary Muthoni, Director-General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, KMPDC Chief Executive Officer, Dr. David Kariuki, and other senior Ministry officials.
