• Already, KUTRRH CEO Ahmed Dagane has formally submitted a Request for Placement note with Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof Paul Wainaina to facilitate the necessary procedures
• KUTRRH has also requested Kenyatta University to share the list of medical consultants appointed to handle the students seconded to the teaching hospital
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Medical students from Kenyatta University School of Medicine can now access state-of-the-art medical training amenities at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital.
The amenities to be accessed by both undergraduate and postgraduate students include wards and laboratories at the level six national referral and research hospital with a 650-bed capacity.
The accreditation by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) authorises training for up to 100 students in Medicine and Surgery.
The hospital management yesterday confirmed that it was ready to receive the first cohort of 100 medical students from the university as trainees.
The hospital said it was ready to receive the training following the facility’s recent accreditation as a teaching centre for the university.
Officials from the KMPDC inspected KUTRRH on July 20 following a directive from Health CS Susan Nakhumicha.
Inspection is a precondition for any hospital to receive approval from the council to accept students.
Already, KUTRRH CEO Ahmed Dagane has formally submitted a Request for Placement note with Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof Paul Wainaina to facilitate the necessary procedures.
As part of the placement request, KUTRRH has also requested Kenyatta University to share the list of medical consultants appointed to handle the students seconded to the teaching hospital to facilitate a smooth onboarding.
Speaking when he confirmed the ongoing onboarding plans, Dagane said the medical students will enjoy quality teaching facilities provided by KUTRRH.
Alongside Kenyatta University, KUTRRH is also an accredited teaching facility for JKUAT, University of Nairobi, USIU-A and AMREF University and Egerton University.
Others include Moi University, Mount Kenya University, National Defense University, Nairobi Women’s College and Mama Ngina University Faculties of Medicine.
Following their assessment and on their authority, KUTRRH received the inspection report on July 27.
“We are now pleased to inform you that the hospital facilities are available for medical education for the Kenyatta University Medicine undergraduate students,” Dagane said.
“KUTRRH would appreciate if you could share with us as soon as possible a tentative date for the commencement of this programme to enable the hospital to make the necessary arrangements for the onboarding of the students,” Dagane said the request note to the Wainaina.
Nakhumicha in July had said the number of trainees who will be allowed to access facilities at the hospital will be limited.
The Heath CS told the Standing Committee on Health that a primary accreditation report indicated that there will be a limit on the number of students the hospital can accommodate.
“However, the report might indicate some limitations regarding the initial number of students the hospital can accommodate, taking into account factors like bed capacity and logistical considerations,” she told the committee.
KUTRRH chairperson Olive Mugenda said training medical students in Kenya is highly regulated, and the facility is well placed to provide quality teaching hospital solutions for KU students undertaking their undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
Kenyatta University Student Association president Teddy Odhiambo has welcomed the development and described the recent accreditation as a legacy milestone.
He congratulated KU management, KMPDC and KUTRRH for showing leadership for the benefit and well-being of medical students.