Improving the ratio of doctors to patients in Kenya will help in curbing the number of quacks offering medical services, Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB) has reiterated.

 

KMPDB Chief Executive Officer Mr. Daniel Yumbya stated that the number of medical doctors in the country was still below the recommended WHO standards prompting quacks to infiltrate into the profession. Speaking at Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) main Campus in Meru on Monday during the oathing ceremony of 27 new doctors at KeMU.

 

Yumbya regretted that there was one doctor to attend to an average of 6,000 patients. He said the situation was worse in the dental health where one dentist is meant to attend to about 37,000 people. He however noted that the situation is likely to improve with the licensing of more medical schools in the country.

 

“So far we have approved 9 medical schools and 2 more are ready for approval to improve the ratio of doctors in the country,” said the CEO.

 

Yumbya maintained that the board shall continue with its annual crackdown on quacks and centres offering medical services without its approval.

 

The new doctors were urged to stick to their code of ethics to help preserve the noble profession.

 

“Don’t be lured into the greed for money at the expense of protecting the sanctity of human life,” he advised.

 

Yumbya further encouraged them to take their one-year internship seriously for it will determine their registration with the board.

 

“Whatever that has been happening during the six years of training was both an individual and group work effort but the success in your internship depends on your personal commitment,” noted the CEO.

 

The doctors are the pioneer graduates from the only private university in the country offering medicine with board promising to give enough support to ensure many medical doctors train in the country.
Kenyas Watching