The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has issued demands over the licensing and recruitment of foreign medical practitioners.
KMPDU demanded investigations into the two while raising concerns over alleged unethical practices and organ trafficking in private hospitals.
The union is accusing some private and mission hospitals in the country of employing foreign doctors who can be easily manipulated under poor terms and coercing them to conduct unethical procedures such as organ harvesting.
According to KMPDU, more than 1,655 foreign medical practitioners work in Kenya, mainly in private hospitals in major cities.
Also Read: Duale Orders Inspection of All Hospitals and Clinics
KMPDU Exposes Hospitals Exploiting Foreign Doctors
Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah alleged that some of the foreign doctors operating in Kenya have had their licenses revoked in their countries.
He further issued a demand to the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) to crack the whip on such elements to guarantee the safety of Kenyans in need of health services.
“We’ve learned that these private hospitals and these mission hospitals have perfected the art of casualisation, the art of importing foreign doctors into their hospitals, confiscating their passports and then employing them in very deplorable and variable situations. They are being coaxed into doing all these unethical procedures,” said Atella.
The union is calling on KMPDC to audit the recruitment practices of private institutions.
KMPDU said the council should account for how foreign doctors are hired, whether their qualifications are properly verified, and what services they are providing.
Concerns on illegal organ trafficking
The union has also raised concerns about the link between the recruitment of foreign doctors and illegal organ trafficking, claiming that the ongoing illicit organ trade in the country is directly connected to the non-transparent licensing of foreign medical practitioners.
“They are used to doing these unethical issues or organ trafficking because they are not at a bigger loss than the local doctors. For a local doctor, your license will be stopped with KMPDC, but for these doctors, they have to do everything that these employers are demanding,” Atella added.
“We have also seen recently reported also where a hospital has been set up in Parklands with the same individuals who were banned in India. This is a lot of laxity from the KMPDC. We stand firmly against this profit-driven practice underpinned by the exploitation of vulnerable migrant workers.”
Also Read: Organ Trafficking: Duale Exposes How Foreigners Are Flying Out with Kidneys
Duale issues fresh orders
This comes after the Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale ordered KMPDC to immediately halt the licensing of new foreign medical practitioners with the exception of those from the East African Community (EAC) member states.
CS Duale also instructed all currently licensed foreign practitioners in Kenya and submit a comprehensive report to his office within 90 days.
The CS further appointed an independent investigative committee on tissue and organ transplant services.
In a gazette notice dated April 23, 2025, the CS appointed 13 members to the committee and a secretariat made of three members.
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.
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