The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has shut down 46 health facilities in Mombasa County for operating illegally.
Philip Ole Kamwaro, Director Corporate Services (DCS) and acting Chief Executive Officer at KMPDC, stated that the agency had inspected 263 health facilities in Mombasa County out of a total of 436 registered health facilities.
“KMPDC in conjunction with the Mombasa County government and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) conducted a routine inspection of health facilities in Mombasa County to ensure that they are compliant for the purposes for which they are registered with,” he said.
Kamwaro also stated that three people were apprehended during the inspection.
He also stated that 25 facilities were partially closed for failing to meet the required standards and norms.
“The facilities that were closed were either unregistered or unlicensed and had employed unlicensed and unregistered practitioners. Facility compliance inspection usually involves an assessment of physical infrastructure, human resource capacity, licensure of all medical cadres and observation of facilities operations,” he added.
He warned the public not to visit unregistered health facilities and to report unregistered facilities, adding that the agency was working with county governments to ensure Kenyans received proper service delivery.
Abdulmanaf Zein, Assistant Director of Medical Services in Mombasa County, stated that the inspections will continue until all health facilities meet the standards.
“What we want to assure residents is that we are working together with all regulatory agencies to ensure that our people get quality services that are not compromised,” he said.
He added that staffing in government health facilities was difficult, but they were up to the task.
