KMA opposes establishment of Ruto’s new health taskforce

In a statement, KMA Secretary General Dr. Diana Marion said that the task force's mandate is already being undertaken by other constitutional bodies.

Some of the bodies are the Kenya Health Human Resource Advisory Council (KHHRAC) and the Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority (KHPOA). 

According to KMA, KHHRAC is charged with reviewing policies and establishing standards for posting interns, inter county transfers of healthcare professions, welfare, schemes, and maintaining a master register.

At the same time, KHPOA maintains a duplicate register for all health professionals, promotes and regulates inter-professional liaison, resolves complaints from patients, arbitrates disputes besides ensuring that standards for health practitioners are upheld.

The task force was recommended following the Return to Work formula after the 56-day doctors' strike.

KMA however pushed for the establishment of a constitutional Health Service Commission (HSC) which will manage the Human Resources for Health function centrally.

Some of the proposed functions include the setting up of standards for training, code of conduct, recruitment and remuneration and the registration of health workers.

It will also oversee recruitment, deployment and rationalize remuneration and terms of service for health workers in the country.

President William Ruto named the 20-member taskforce on July 6. 

He appointed Khama Rogo as the chairperson and Judith Guserwa the vice Chairperson of the task force.