The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has come out to defend its licensing process for foreign medical practitioners, following rising concerns from stakeholders about unethical recruitment practices. In a statement issued on Wednesday, KMPDC Chief Executive Officer David Kariuki dismissed claims that foreign doctors are licensed and recruited without due process.
Kariuki emphasized that the council rigorously evaluates all foreign medical practitioners in line with Section 6(5) of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act of 2019 and the Medical Practitioners and Dentists (Inspections and Licensing) Rules of 2022.
“We wish to reassure the public and all stakeholders that the licensing process is carried out with the highest level of due diligence to uphold patient safety and maintain the standards of care expected in Kenya’s healthcare system,” said Kariuki.
His remarks come in the wake of growing scrutiny from the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU), which recently called for an investigation into the licensing and recruitment of foreign doctors. The union alleged that some foreign doctors are being hired through unethical and opaque processes, with alarming links to rising cases of medical malpractice and organ trafficking.
KMPDU further criticized the government for sidelining qualified Kenyan doctors, many of whom remain unemployed. “It is an insult that they are left to struggle, with some resorting to selling timber or hawking in the streets to earn a living,” the union said in a statement.
In response, Kariuki announced that KMPDC is conducting a comprehensive audit of all foreign doctors practicing in the country. This audit, initiated under the directive of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, is expected to be completed within 90 days, after which a detailed report will be released.
Kariuki reaffirmed the council’s commitment to ensuring ethical and professional healthcare standards. “We value the trust placed in us by the public and stakeholders and will continue to uphold our mandate with integrity and professionalism,” he said.
The council’s assurance aims to restore public confidence and maintain transparency in the regulation of medical practice in Kenya.
