The government has issued an update following the completion of the first round of investigations conducted at the health facility where Lucy Wambui passed away after a botched cosmetic surgery.
According to Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, the investigations conducted by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) revealed serious non-compliance by the facility.
The PS, in her statement to the press issued on November 2, noted that the clinic was found to have contravened Sections 4 and 15 of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act (Cap 253) which mandates all health professionals to meet the minimum requirements set by the Ministry of Health before operating as a practitioner.
“The inspection found that the facility was operating below the required medical standards, failing to meet patient safety regulations crucial for protecting the health and well-being of patients,” the health PS revealed.
PS Muthoni also revealed that another round of investigations had commenced on the staff involved in Lucy Wambui’s treatment. The ministry noted it would examine the extent of culpability before determining the appropriate actions to take.
Meanwhile, KMPDC ordered the immediate closure of the facility to ensure public safety until all necessary corrective actions are implemented to guarantee compliance with patient safety standards.
“The State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards through KMDC remains committed to upholding the highest standards of healthcare across Kenya and will continue to monitor compliance to protect the public. Updates on the investigation will be provided as more information becomes available,” PS Muthoni stated.
The update comes a day after the Ministry of Health announced the commencement of investigations to examine the circumstances that led to the tragic death of the middle-aged woman.
According to PS Muthoni, a team of experts was dispatched to the hospital to conduct a fact-finding mission aimed at assessing whether the necessary professional standards were met during the cosmetic procedure before Lucy’s death.
“The Ministry of Health has received with deep concern the report of Lucy Wambui's tragic passing following complications from a surgical procedure at a Nairobi hospital. Any evidence of malpractice or deviation from established norms will be addressed with appropriate action, in line with applicable laws,” the PS affirmed.
However, the medical facility has since distanced itself from any wrongdoing, maintaining that the woman visited the hospital to undergo plastic surgery but was later transferred to the Nairobi Hospital where she died. The hospital owners through their lawyer, Danstan Omari have also gone ahead and applied for a court order to stop the closure.
The owners of the facility have contradicted the Ministry of Health's report, arguing that the hospital was fully registered and was compliant with all regulatory requirements. According to lawyer Danstan Omari, the facility was fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and surgeons.
"It is a registered medical facility certified as a hospital-level 3. It has all the requisite medical licenses and doctors' practising certificates. It has been in operation for almost 10 years. To have qualified to become a hospital, they went through rigorous vetting," Omari stated.
"We urge Kenyans using social media to be careful not to spread any information that is not the truth. We are hoping that very soon our client will be given a chance to state the circumstances under which some of the procedures were done so that people can know the truth," noted lawyer Sophy Wanjala.
