𝐂𝐒 𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐝𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬

BY ERIC ABUGA

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale says strict compliance with training standards is non-negotiable.

Duale called on health regulatory bodies to remain uncompromised and uphold their mandate of safeguarding patient safety.

“Do not be compromised by the people you regulate, your work is patient safety. All health training institutions must align with the curriculum and standards set by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC)."

The CS says these regulations are not arbitrary. "They are designed to protect patients and safeguard professional credibility."

He made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation from Mount Kenya University (MKU) led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi. 

The discussions focused on the credibility of Kenya’s health training systems and the global reputation of its health workforce — a key pillar of the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.

Duale emphasized that the Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring that every health worker from community oral health officers to specialist surgeons is trained to the highest standards.

However, he raised concerns over MKU’s Bachelor of Science in Oral Health programme, noting that it does not meet KMPDC’s set standards. 

He also flagged broader sector challenges, including commercialization of medical training, introduction of courses without Ministry consultation, and substandard curricula in some institutions.

“These are gaps we are addressing decisively to ensure training programmes meet regulatory requirements and uphold patient safety,” Duale stated.

The CS assured the Ministry’s continued collaboration with health training institutions in areas such as curriculum review, faculty development, and joint quality assurance exercises, anchored on quality, compliance, and public interest.