Kenya’s main well being employee unions have raised alarm over the proposed Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill, 2025.
In a press assertion issued on June 19, the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), talking on behalf of the well being sector caucus, accused the Ministry of Health of sidelining key stakeholders in drafting the invoice, significantly healthcare implementers.
KUCO referred to as the invoice a duplication of current legal guidelines and a possible menace to healthcare requirements.
The union says the invoice introduces authorized redundancies and fails to handle core systemic points undermining healthcare high quality.
“Almost 80% of the content material within the draft invoice is already coated in current laws, together with the Health Act 2017, the Public Health Act, and the Kenya Quality Model for Health,” KUCO stated, including that as a substitute of streamlining healthcare, the invoice dangers confusion and duplication of roles.
New Patient Safety Bill 2025
The invoice purports to enhance the standard and security of healthcare supply in Kenya, a objective the union helps. However, KUCO argues that the method is flawed.
“True high quality healthcare is efficient, secure, people-centred, well timed, equitable, environment friendly, and well-integrated. These targets are already enshrined in varied present legal guidelines and insurance policies.”
One of the key issues raised is the shortage of an impartial high quality assurance mechanism.
According to the union, the invoice preserves a flawed construction the place one entity is accountable for registration, licensing and accreditation of well being services.
The union termed the method as having traditionally led to misclassification, corruption, and poor service supply.
“A robust and progressive high quality assurance mechanism should contain a two-tier system: regulatory our bodies to register and license, and an impartial authority to confirm and accredit,” the union stated.
Health Union Demands
The union cited a 2022 High Court ruling by Judge Wesley Korir, which really useful amending the Health Act 2017 as a extra environment friendly and cost-effective path to strengthening healthcare high quality somewhat than introducing new, probably conflicting laws.
“The Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority (KHPOA) was affirmed because the lead company for healthcare high quality assurance. The proposed invoice undermines this authorized directive by making an attempt to ascertain a parallel authority,” the assertion learn.
They at the moment are calling for the withdrawal of the draft invoice and a extra inclusive course of that prioritises strengthening current buildings over legislative duplication.
“We stay dedicated to high quality and secure healthcare. But the way in which ahead have to be collaborative, knowledgeable, and grounded in what already works,” the union concluded.
