Kenya Health Professionals Oversight Authority pledges to ensure professionalism in health sector

The Kenya Health Professionals Oversight Authority (KHPOA) led by the Chair Dr Amit Thakker on Thursday 11 April 2024 pledged to ensure  professionalism in health sector and maintaining ethics  as a way of protect

KHPOA said  they are working with health sector unions and the Ministry of health and provide oversight on regulations, maintenance of standards and good quality service delivery 

Speaking during a consultative meeting with KHPOA board in Nairobi addressed gaps in the health care system, Dr Thakker said that health workers are trained to ensure quality health care and protect life of citizens, ensures that the population is healthy and able to contribute to productivity and socio-economic development of the country.

“We will work to improve the conduct and ethical practice of health professionals in public and private institutions to ensure that all citizens receive the highest standards of health,” said Dr Thakker.

Additionally he said that plans are underway and KHPOA will conducts visits to hospitals and training facilities for health workers to check on the qualifications of all health practitioners and the trainers, a move which is beleaved to eliminate quacks in the sector.  

“The health regulatory boards and council will be required to enforce compliance to the respective codes of professional conduct and ethical practice,” said Thakker.

Moreover KHPOA mandate of the Authority is to provide oversight in health care services;  training, registration and licensing of health professionals; coordinate joint  health inspections; receive and facilitate resolution of complaints and  arbitrate disputes and conflicts; ensure compliance of health professionals standards and monitor execution of respective mandates and functions of  health regulatory bodies.

In this regard Dr. Thakker said the authority aspires to provide effective and responsive  oversight in the regulation of healthcare services, health professions,

statutory regulatory bodies and resolution of complaints and/or conflicts for  progressive fulfilment of the right to highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to health care services.   

He explained how Kenya Vision 2030 aims to transform Kenya into a newly industrialized, middle-income country providing a high quality of life to all its citizens by  2030. 

Quality healthcare ensures that the population is healthy and able to contribute to productivity, as well as the overall socio-economic development of the country. 

“The Authority will oversee provision quality of health care services and improve regulations on training, professional conduct and ethical practice of all health professionals in Kenya (public and  private) to ensure citizens receive the highest attainable standards of  health” said Dr Thakker.

Furthermore the Authority will improve the overall patient health care experience by ensuring an efficient, reliable and high-quality health care delivery system with acceptable standards and norms. 

Moreover, health regulatory Boards and Councils will be required to enforce compliance to the respective codes of professional conduct and ethical practice. This will ensure health professionals perform and discharge their duties and responsibilities in a manner that promotes the respect for human rights; and that every person is treated with dignity, respect and their privacy respected in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the Health Act.

KHPOA commits to resolve complaints referred to it by health  institutions or regulatory bodies and/or any appeals by aggrieved persons or  parties as provided by Health Act 2017. 

KHPOA Chairman also explained  that every person has a right to file a complaint about the manner in which he or she was treated at a health facility and have the complaint investigated appropriately. 

If a health facility or a regulatory body fails to resolve a complaint to the satisfaction of the complainant, the Authority shall take  necessary action.

“The Authority shall ensure the right to emergency medical treatment is  strictly observed and any facility or health professional who withholds, delays, or denies access to treatment or investigations to any patient in an emergency situation will be sanctioned and appropriate actions taken”Dr Thakker clarified.