The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has issued a notice regarding the relocation of health facilities operating in restricted areas.
In a statement on their official X account on March 12, the facilities affected include those who operate in petrol stations and residential buildings
“Health facilities located in restricted areas, such as petrol stations and
residential buildings, are hereby notified that these locations are unsuitable
for healthcare operations,” the council said.
The Council directed that to provide a safe and conducive environment for both patients and the community, the facilities must relocate within six months.
“Failure to comply will result in closure,” KMPDC warned.
The restriction aims to reduce the spread of infections and ensure the safety of patients.
Additionally, KMPDC said safety concerns such as risks from flammable materials, inadequate infrastructure and disturbances that compromise patient care necessitate the directive.
KMPDC is mandated to regulate the training, practice and licensing of medicine, dentistry and healthcare institutions.
These include private and mission hospitals, medical, dental centres and clinics, nursing and maternity homes and standalone funeral homes.
In the past, the Council has closed several facilities for not meeting the set standards.
In March 2024, 80 facilities in Kajiado County were shut down over noncompliance with licensing regulations.
“Some of the facilities closed were operating below the stipulated standards, others were either unregistered or unlicensed, while others had employed persons that were unregistered or unlicensed,” KMPDC Chief Executive Officer David Kariuki said then.
In July 2024, a report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu showed that more than 9,000 health facilities were not licensed by KMPDC.
“Review of the KMPDC database provided for audit and available in KMPDC website revealed that out of the 16,527 registered health facilities in the year 2023, only 7,518 or 46 per cent complied with the licensing rules,” the report stated.
This meant that some 9,009 or 56 per cent of all the health facilities were not licensed, triggering concerns about the standard of services offered.
A fully licensed facility should have all the set requirements in terms of equipment and medical staff, among others, to ensure quality medical services.
The revelations are contained in the audit report for KMPDU for the period ended June 30, 2023.
