The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has raised alarm over unregistered medical and or dental practitioners offering services to the public.
In a notice on November 26, 2024, KMPDC noted the surge in unlicensed individuals and facilities providing medical and dental services.
“The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council is a body corporate established under Section 3 of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act (CAP 253, Laws of Kenya). The mandate of the Council is to regulate the training and practice of medicine, dentistry and community oral health,” read the notice in part.
Definition of a health facility
The Council went on to define what qualifies a health institution as provided for in the Health Act.
“The Health Act 2017 defines a health facility as the whole or part of a public or private institution, building or place, whether for profit or not, that is operated or designed to provide in-patient or out-patient treatment, diagnostic or therapeutic interventions, nursing, rehabilitative, pal- illative, convalescent, preventative or other health service,” said the notice.
In addition, KMPDC outlined guidelines form members of the public to observe and use to determine whether a facility is licensed and registered to offer medical and or dental services.
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KMPDC guidelines
The guidelines are as follows:
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- Section 22 (5) of CAP 253 stipulates that a person who uses premises as a health institution which premises is not licensed as a health institution commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding ten million shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.
- Medical and dental services can only be provided in health facilities that are registered and licensed to operate in Kenya. Standalone laboratories and pharmacies are registered and licensed within their regulatory framework for the specific purposes of diagnostic testing and medication dispensing.
- Invasive procedures such as those involving injection of medications, procedures requiring local anaes- thetics and procedures on teeth are considered medical services and are required to be undertaken in health facilities and by practitioners that are registered and licensed. Some of these procedures include liposuction, botox, facial rejuvenation, micro needling, hair transplant, laser hair removal, dental waxing, teeth whitening, placement of dental braces or implants among others.
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The council also urged members of the public to seek treatment from health facilities that are registered and licensed by the council.
It also provided a link where members of the public can check for health facilities that are registered and licensed to operate in the country for the year at https://kmpdc.go.ke/Registers/MTreg/facilities.php.
The registration and licensing status of a health facility can also be verified through SMS by sending a message: H#Name of facility to 20547 or H#Registration number of facility to 20547.
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