The Ministry of Health is taking aim at regulatory lapses in Kenya’s healthcare system, with Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale issuing a stern call for tighter oversight and greater accountability within the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC).
Speaking during his first official visit to the Council’s Nairobi offices, CS Duale emphasized that lax licensing practices and overlooked compliance failures were directly undermining public safety. “It will not be business as usual,” he warned, pointing squarely at individuals within the regulatory system who may be enabling unqualified or non-compliant facilities.
The Health CS highlighted the Council’s expanded mandate under the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, noting that it now carries a heightened responsibility to guarantee all Kenyans access to care that meets professional standards. “Let your operations reflect integrity, transparency, and a commitment to public service,” he said.
As part of a broader campaign to clean up the sector, Duale announced plans for enhanced inter-agency collaboration, resource mobilization, and legislative support aimed at strengthening medical oversight from the national to the county level.
He also spotlighted the Ministry’s new Digital Health Agency, which is working to identify fraudulent practitioners and block them from putting patients at risk. This, he said, was essential in building a system where trust in healthcare is restored and upheld.
Duale urged KMPDC staff to embrace efficiency, teamwork, and ethical leadership in order to realign the Council’s mission with the country’s push toward Universal Health Coverage.
