The Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has appointed the Director General for Health in the Ministry Dr. Patrick Amoth to a new government role.
CS Duale in a gazette notice dated April 23, 2025, appointed Dr. Amoth alongside 15 others to be members of the Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel.
Others include Prof. Walter G. Jaoko who will serve as the chairperson, Dr. Hajara El Busaidy, Robert Rapando, Dr, Gabriel Muswali, Margaret Macharia, Dr. Mary Kigasia Amuyunzu-Nyamongo, Nehemiah Odera, Dr. Walter Oyamo Obita, Dr. Valeria Makory and Stephen Kaboro.
The joint secretariat will comprise of Dr. Christine Wambugu, Dr. Tabitha Okech, Francis Motiri, Dr. Patricia Nyokabi, and Dr. Abdiaziz Abdikadir Ahmed.
“IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by Regulations 41 (2) and 43 (1) of the Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024, the Cabinet Secretary for Health establishes the Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel to advice the Cabinet Secretary and the Social Health Authority on the benefits packages under Regulation 40 (1) of the Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024 and appoints (16 appointees) to be Members of the Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel, for a period of three (3) years,” read the gazette notice.
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Duale appoints investigative committee on tissue and organ transplant services
At the same time, CS Duale has appointed an independent investigative committee on tissue and organ transplant services.
In a gazette notice dated April 23, 2025, the CS appointed Prof. Elizabeth Bukusi, who will serve as the chairperson,Dr. Jonathan Wala Ameyo, Prof. Ahmed Sokwala, Dr. Prexedes Okutoyi, Dr. Patrick Mburugu, Dr. Noelle Atieno Orata, Dr.Ann Kasyoka Barasa, Dr. Diviner Kemunto Nyarera, Dr. Wendy Kimbui, Dr. Sara Talaso Bonaya, Dr. Charles Kandie, Joseph Ndirangu, and Larica Onam to be members of the committee.
The secretariat will comprise of Dr. Stella Kanja, Rueben Tulei, and Jedidah Effie Oduor.
The terms of reference of the committee shall be, among others to establish the existing legal and regulatory framework governing the tissue and organ transplant services in Kenya.
They shall also conduct an in-depth independent investigation into any non-compliant tissue and organ transplant services offered within health facilities in Kenya including in Mediheal Group of Hospitals (hereinafter referred to as Mediheal”) and to assess the status of governance, ethical, legal and clinical practices of tissue and organ transplant services across all health facilities in Kenya.
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Other terms of reference
In addition, Duale said that the committee will review the existing policy, legal and institutional framework, standards, guidelines and protocols that govern organ and tissue transplant services in Kenya and identify any existing gaps in the framework.
The committee will evaluate governance and operating procedures, including transplant protocols, ethics reviews, and post-transplant monitoring and identify any existing weaknesses and gaps.
It will further identify systemic weaknesses, risks of malpractice, or non-compliance with legal or ethical standards in tissue and organ transplant services.
At the same time, CS Duale said that the committee will determine the facilities that are duly licensed to provide transplant services in Kenya and conduct site reviews of all facilities offering tissue and organ transplant services to establish the status of compliance with the existing framework and protocols.
The committee has further been tasked to conduct an in-depth investigation into instances of malpractice or non-compliance by the facilities offering the transplant services (if any) and undertake a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations of illegal organ transplant and organ trafficking at Mediheal, among other mandates.
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