The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) and other health unions have strongly opposed the government’s latest proposal to merge their regulatory bodies. They have outlined 30 key reasons why they are rejecting the plan, arguing that it will negatively impact healthcare services and the regulation of medical professionals.
The Ministry of Health recently introduced the Quality of Care Bill 2025, which proposes merging and defunding various health associations and unions. This reform aims to consolidate different regulatory bodies into a single entity, but health unions believe it will bring more harm than good to the healthcare system.
Unions Stand Firm Against the Proposal
In a joint statement released on Friday, February 28, officials representing various health sector unions and associations under the Health Sector Caucus reiterated their opposition to the merger. They emphasized that the current system, where individual regulatory bodies oversee their respective professions, is the most effective.
“We, the officials and representatives of health sector unions, firmly oppose the proposal to merge regulatory bodies. The existing system of peer regulation is the best standard, as it ensures that regulators deeply understand the professionals and institutions they oversee,” the statement read.
The unions argue that consolidating regulatory bodies into one will create several challenges, including:
- Increased bureaucracy and inefficiency
- Regulatory overlap leading to confusion
- Diluted professional standards
- Higher operational burdens on small healthcare facilities
- Political interference in medical regulations
- Erosion of professional trust and autonomy
- Lack of expertise specific to different medical fields
- Increased cost and complexity of training medical staff
- Weakened ability to respond effectively to healthcare crises
- Reduced professional representation in decision-making
Additional Concerns from Health Unions
Beyond these core concerns, the unions further criticized the bill for:
- Conflicting interests between different healthcare professions
- High compliance costs for medical practitioners
- Resistance to innovation due to excessive regulation
- Inconsistent enforcement of medical standards
- Limited flexibility in addressing industry changes
- Complicated and lengthy licensing requirements
- Inefficiencies in handling cases of medical malpractice
- Potential for regulatory capture by political or private interests
- Reduced competitiveness of Kenya’s healthcare professionals internationally
- Duplication of research and policies, wasting resources
While the unions acknowledge that merging regulatory bodies may have certain advantages, they argue that the drawbacks far outweigh any potential benefits.
Call for Strengthening Existing Regulatory Bodies
They also pointed out that in the past, similar mergers in other healthcare professions—such as Community Oral Health Officers, Dental Technicians, and Pharmaceutical Technologists—have led to major setbacks. These groups are now actively seeking self-regulation again after facing significant challenges under merged regulatory bodies.
According to the unions, the government has failed to provide proper documentation or research to justify this proposal. They question the real motivation behind the push for consolidation, especially since the Kenya Health Professionals Oversight Authority (KHPOA), the current regulatory body, is already functioning.
They demand that the existing health regulatory bodies established by Acts of Parliament be maintained and strengthened, rather than being dismantled. Additionally, they insist that any currently unregulated healthcare sectors should be allowed to decide whether to join existing regulatory bodies instead of being forced into the new system.
Unions Issue Final Warning to the Government
Meanwhile, the 14-day ultimatum issued by the unions is running out, with only five days left before they take drastic action, including a nationwide strike. They have urged the government to address their concerns, including resolving issues related to SHA and the absorption of UHC staff, among other pending matters.
As tensions escalate, all eyes are on the Ministry of Health to see if it will reconsider its stance or risk a major disruption in the healthcare sector.
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