800 Clinics in Nairobi Operating without Licenses
The Nairobi County government says at least 800 private clinics are operating illegally in the city.
A report compiled by the County Public Health Department shows that there is a total of 2,315 privately-owned health centres in Nairobi, 1,500 of which are licensed to offer medical services.
Nairobi County Clinical Inspection Coordinator Jesca Omai says 34 percent (800) of the clinics in the capital are offering medical services to residents without permits.
“After a mapping programme carried out in August last year, the department found out that Nairobi has a total of 2,315 private clinics out of which only 1,500 have received inspection certificates over time and have been cleared with the department as having the necessary permits,” says Omai.
She blames the sprouting of illegal clinics in Nairobi to lack of cooperation between the county health department and regulatory bodies such as the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, the Nursing Council of Kenya and the Clinical Officers Council.
“The department normally receives applications from people who want to start clinics in the capital city but it is not the only body that can license them," she says.
"We have regulatory bodies which are different. The overall one is the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board. Nursing councils can also license their own people."Ms Omai says, adding that the illegal clinics will all be shutdown.
Among the unlicensed health centres is Milan Health International, a clinic in Kayole allegedly owned by quack doctor James Mugo Ndichu alias Mugo Wa Wairimu.
“No licence was given to Milan International and we have never met Mr Mugo in the clinic. The applicant for the permits for the clinic was Elijah Mathiai and the documents presented were for a nurse who was allowed to practice," Ms Omai says.
Comments
Hypothetically speaking, if…
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Hypothetically speaking, if each of the clinics received 20 patients a day, for 5 days a week for every week in a month, for 12 months the clinics will have put at medical/health risk about 3,840,000 humans (of course many are repeat cases). Put it another way a population larger than the Nairobi's 3.2 M (counting more than once) is exposed to risks, malpractices and fatalities posed by these clinics.
"We have regulatory bodies…
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"We have regulatory bodies which are different". 1. This is where the problem is. For a business to be started in kenya, one has to visit almost 10 or more licensing bodies. 2. Corrupt officials, chota na kazi iendele.
The City Askaris and KBS…
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The City Askaris and KBS officers harass hawkers and small business owners and ask for their licenses very often. If they don’t have licenses or are selling a bottle of perfume without a KBS label they arrest them and ask for huge fines or hongos. How come close to a third of all the clinics in Nairobi do not have licenses? Are you kidding me! Let the small mboga and kiosk woman fry. The law in Kenya is only for the weak and the poor.
City askaris and KBS…
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City askaris and KBS officers harass hawkers and kiosk/stall operators right and left. They ask for their licenses. They also demand anything, say a little bottom of perfume must bear a KBS label. If they show no license or anything small without a label, they are arrested and taken to the police cells, fined heavily or asked to give the corrupt KBS officers big hongos. These small scale business people live in fear. Some close their stalls or run if an askali is sighted anywhere near. How come over a third of the clinics in Nairobi have no licenses? Are you kidding me! Is the law made for only the weak and the poor? Let the poor man/woman fry!
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