Health CS Cleophas Mailu lauds medical school's inspection exercise
Members of EAC medical boards and councils at Mount Kenya University after an inspection exercise of the school's medical programmes and facilities. The Health CS Cleophas Mailu has lauded the bodies' efforts to develop an accreditation and inspection guideline to be used across the region. PHOTO | OUMA WANZALA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Universities inspected: University of Nairobi, Moi University, Kenyatta University, Egerton University, Jomo Kenyatta University, Kenya Methodist, Uzima University and Mount Kenya University.
- Dr Mailu revealed that the region faces a shortage of healthcare providers and needs to train more medical doctors.
- The CS regretted that the number of students in medical schools has increased without corresponding growth in both teaching staff and facilities thus jeopardizing quality of education.
Health Cabinet Secretary Cleophas Mailu has lauded East African Community boards and councils for developing guidelines that are being used in the inspection and accreditation of medical schools in the region.
Dr Mailu was speaking in Nairobi during a dinner hosted for the EAC medical boards and councils that were in the country from January 16 to 22 for the second inspection of universities offering medical and dental courses.
The Health CS said that enforcement of standards will ensure that only well-trained doctors are released to the market.
“Placing medical education on a basis of shared standards will facilitate exchange of medical students and enhance the acceptance and recognition of medical and dental practitioner in the region,” Dr Mailu said.
The check list used in inspection included governance and management, academic programs, physical infrastructure, human resource, students affairs, programme monitoring and evaluation, research and innovation among others.
Dr Mailu revealed that the region faces a shortage of healthcare providers and needs to train more medical doctors.
The CS urged public and private universities offering medical courses to match their admissions with available teaching staff so that they do not compromise on quality.
MEDICAL SCHOOLS INSPECTED
The universities that were inspected included: University of Nairobi, Moi University, Kenyatta University, Egerton University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya Methodist University, Uzima University and Mount Kenya University.
The CS regretted that the number of students in medical schools has increased without corresponding growth in both teaching staff and facilities thus jeopardizing quality of education.
“Standards, which have general applicability for basic medical education, take into account the variations among countries due to difference in teaching methods, tradition, culture, socio-economic conditions, disease patterns and different healthcare delivery,” said the Cabinet Secretary.
The report is expected to help schools develop strategies that address emerging challenges and broaden opportunities for educational research and development and foster co-operation in the region.
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board (KMDPB) chairman Prof George Magoha asked the government to ensure that it does not lose doctors to other countries in the region.
Dr Magoba lauded Public Private Partnership in provision of health service saying that the Sh300million anatomy laboratory that has been put up at Thika Level Five hospital by Mount Kenya University is significant.
Those that were involved the inspection included Prof David Ngassapa , the vice-chair Tanganyika Medical council, Prof Magoha, Prof Joel Okullo, chairman Uganda Medical and Dental Council, Dr Emannuel Rudakemwa , registar Rwanda Medical Council , Prof Gordien Ngendakuriyo, chairman Burundi Medical Council and Dr Jamala Adam Taib, chairman Zanzibar Medical Council.
