Nairobi county fires warning at unlicensed health facilities

Nairobians have been urged to seek medical services only from approved health facilities.

Chief Officer for Health facilities management Geoffrey Mosiria further warned owners of facilities from employing unqualified personnel.

Mosiria said any facility found to be operating without valid documentation during inspection will be shut and the owners made to face the law.

A joint team of inspectors from the county and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council has in the recent past intensified crackdown on facilities that have failed to meet the required standards.

According to Mosiria, the joint inspections have seen three facilities and several labs closed within the last one month for lack of proper documents.

"We have been visiting facilities doing inspection which is our routine work. You find a facility is a container, just a shop-like, someone has just opened a place where the ventilation is poor, it doesn’t meet the standards and those are some of the clinics we are discouraging,” Mosiria said.

He noted that an ideal facility should have a consultation room, a waiting bay, good ventilation, clean toilets for both female and male patients and must meet all public health standards.

Mosiria, however, noted that those facilities with proper documentation but with areas which need improvement are given notice and a team later sent to confirm compliance upon lapse of the notice period.

“What I want to tell those operating illegally within the county especially those operating illegal clinics and those medics who are quacks purporting to be doctors and clinicians is if we get you we will follow the law, we will not spare you,” he warned.

 “But those who are operating and you have the license and other documents and you need us to come and do a joint inspection and advise you we are open,” he added.

Mosiria was speaking during the official opening of the AAR Healthcare Kenya outpatient centre in Utawala.

The opening of the Utawala OPC increased the number of AAR Healthcare’s OPCs to 26 across the country and 13 in Nairobi County.

AAR Healthcare Kenya General Manager Elizabeth Wasuna said the launch comes at a critical time as country continues to focus on Universal Healthcare, ensuring that quality healthcare services are accessible and affordable to all citizens.

Earlier this month, President William Ruto signed the UHC bills into law, which are set to support the improvement of the Universal Health Coverage plan focusing on preventive, promotive healthcare as opposed to curative.

Wasuna on her part called on Kenyans to embrace the culture of going for frequent medical checkups.

“We believe that prevention is better than cure and most of the illnesses if detected early can not only be eradicated but most importantly managed so we really believe in promoting wellness and continuous checkups,” she said.

She further urged Kenyans to go for the recommended flu vaccine during this rainy season which has been accompanied by cold, noting that such weather is likely to see a spike in upper respiratory diseases.

“Having come out of the Covid season, one of the things we believe is promotive health and we believe that even during this season with the rains and the cold we expect upper respiratory conditions,” she said.

“One of the things we really believe in is preventing occurrence of illness so we recommend that vaccination especially the flu vaccine can really go a long way in providing a cover during these kinds of seasons,” she added.

The Utawala Outpatient Centre, with its comprehensive healthcare services and state-of-the-art facilities will be a vital resource for the local community.