Relocate to conducive locations within 6 months, clinics advised

Dr David Kariuki: "The potential for fire outbreaks or chemical exposure makes such environments unsuitable for medical facilities."

Health facilities operating in restricted areas have been given up to six months to relocate to appropriate locations.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council said this move is in relation to the crucial role played by healthcare facilities in safeguarding public health hence their location is important.

In a press statement, KMPDC CEO Dr David Kariuki said this would mitigate risks associated with unsuitable locations such as petrol stations and residential buildings.

Dr Kariuki reiterated the council’s commitment to upholding healthcare standards.

He said: "Our primary responsibility is to ensure that healthcare facilities operate in environments that guarantee patient safety, infection control and service quality. We urge all affected facilities to comply within the given timeframe to avoid regulatory action."

The statement noted that medical facilities require controlled environments to prevent the spread of infections. In that regard, establishing clinics or hospitals in high-traffic or poorly designed or ventilated spaces increases the risk of contamination, endangering both patients and healthcare workers as well as visitors to the adjacent services.

He also said that petrol stations specifically pose significant hazards due to the additional presence of highly flammable materials. The potential for fire outbreaks or chemical exposure makes such environments unsuitable for medical facilities, which often store oxygen tanks and other sensitive equipment.

He noted that health facilities located in residential buildings present challenges related to limited space, inadequate ventilation, and restricted access to essential infrastructure such as sewage systems and emergency response mechanisms.

This is because residential areas are primarily designed for housing and may not support the demands of medical service provision, which requires specialised structures to maintain hygiene and safety standards.

The disturbances from increased foot traffic noise and patient movement in residential areas can also negatively impact both residents and healthcare service delivery.

 The exposure to pathogens from the patients increases risk to infections of the general population residing in the residential buildings, he said.

He said in line with the council’s regulations, the location of health facilities must ensure easy accessibility to roads, sewerage lines, and other basic services. Where practicable, a health facility should not be located close to cemeteries, sewage treatment plants, mining areas, or industries that produce emissions.

Other directives from the KMPDC statement include; Mandatory obtaining of necessary environmental approvals from relevant bodies. The siting of health facilities should consider appropriate topography and demographic realities to ensure accessibility and service effectiveness.

Additionally, a health facility must also display a clearly visible name board to the public, indicating the name of the facility, its contact details, and the GPS coordinates from the Kenya Master Health Facility List (KMHFL) along with the distance.

The directive comes just a week after the new Cabinet Secretary for health Aden Duale took a swipe at residential clinics and private hospitals claiming that most of them will be forced to shut down when Social Health Authority starts operating effectively since most of them were formed due to the fraudulent move by the defunct NHIF operatives.

Failure to comply with the directives will result in stringent enforcement actions, including closure of non-compliant facilities. KMPDC has stated that healthcare service providers must prioritize patient welfare and public safety over convenience or cost considerations.