By Dorothy Musyoka
In efforts to fortify Kenya’s healthcare system, Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale has convened a high-level meeting with the leadership of the Clinical Officers Council (COC), led by Chairperson Prof. Samuel Kang’ethe.
According to the ministry, the meeting focused on implementing critical regulatory reforms aligned with the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework, a cornerstone of the government’s health agenda under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Drawing from Section 33(2) of the 2023 Social Health Insurance Act, CS Duale underscored the Council’s legal mandate to uphold integrity, ensure evidence-based regulation, and guarantee transparency in the licensing and oversight of clinical officers and health facilities.
The CS also highlighted that safeguarding the standards of training and professional practice is paramount to ensuring the health and safety of the public.
“Do not license any clinical officer trained in an institution that has not been duly merited, inspected, and audited by the Council,” directed Hon. Duale.
To further reinforce public trust and accountability, Hon. Duale instructed the Council to conduct a comprehensive re-inspection of all currently licensed health facilities.
The CS called on the Council to accelerate the full digitization of its systems in line with the Ministry’s Digital Health Strategy and the mandate of the Digital Health Agency.
Reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to collaborative governance, CS Duale assured the Council of continued support in policy formulation, institutional coordination and the effective rollout of the Taifa Care Model, a flagship initiative under BETA aimed at ensuring accessible, affordable and quality healthcare for all Kenyans.
The meeting was also attended by Public Health Principal Secretary Ms. Mary Muthoni, Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, and Acting CEO of the Digital Health Agency Mr. Anthony Lenaiyara.