Govt lifts ban on medical camps by foreign doctors

The government has lifted the suspension of medical camps organised by foreign doctors.

In a statement to newsrooms by the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, the government issued tough rules against mistreatment and referral of Kenyans to hospitals abroad.

“The suspension place on 16th June by the Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board on all medical camps organized by foreign doctors is hereby lifted. All future medical camps shall be regulated by the rules,” read the statement in part.

According to the statement, signed by Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board Chair, Prof George Magoha, the decision was reached by the Cabinet Secretary for Health in consultation with the board.

According to Section 23 of the Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board Act, the Minister may, after consultation with the Board, make rules generally for the better carrying out of the provisions of this Act, and any such rules may, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power— (a) prescribe anything required by this Act to be prescribed; (b) provide for the procedure to be followed by the Board in an inquiry under section 20; (c) provide for enforcing the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and documents at an inquiry held by the Board; (d) prescribe forms to be used in connection with this Act or fees to be charged under this Act.

Under section 13 of the Act, the Board may, if it is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so, confer upon any person who is not otherwise eligible to be registered as a medical practitioner or as a dentist under the provisions of this Act, by the issue, under the signature of the Director of Medical Services, of a licence to do so, the right to render medical or dental services.

“Every such licence shall be for such period and may contain such conditions as the Director of Medical Services shall, with the consent or on the instruction of the Board, impose,” reads the Act.

“Any licence issued under this section may be cancelled or revoked and withdrawn at any time by the Director of Medical Services with the consent or on the instructions of the Board.”

In June, Magoha, said there was an “alarming trend” of doctors who host medical camps which are actually “hunting grounds for patients.”

The board had suspended medical camps organised by foreign doctors until further notice.