Doctors and dentists have been urged to comply with stricter requirements that have been set out ahead of their annual license renewal as their union ups efforts to improve professional standards.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), through a statement on Wednesday, May 28, urged practitioners to actively accumulate their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points early enough to avoid complications due to a last-minute rush.
"Medical and dental practitioners and Community Oral Health Officers (COHOs) are reminded to actively accumulate their required CPD points as the year progresses," the council said.
All registered practitioners need to attain at least 50 CPD points within a calendar year as a standard requirement under the Medical Practitioners and Dentists (Continuing Professional Development) Rules, 2019. Failure to meet this demand, a practitioner's license cannot be renewed.
Delays in submitting CPD typically lead to different complications for practitioners, with failure to renew their licenses being among the most notable risks. Without a license, a practitioner is legally not allowed to practise.
Further, urgently trying to accumulate CPD points can force practitioners to take up expensive courses due to the limited time available.
The KMPDC has so far accredited more than 190 CPD providers, including referral and referral and county hospitals, professional associations, medical and dental training institutions, and non-governmental organisations. These entities offer CPD activities online and in person as a way to accommodate different schedules.
Besides the call to submit CPD points early enough, practitioners are also discouraged from submitting falsified or inaccurate CPD records, as such actions will trigger instant disciplinary action.
In addition to earning CPD points, all practitioners must also have valid professional indemnity insurance, which is a type of cover which protects medical professionals against legal and financial claims made by clients due to procedural mistakes which can occur during work. All practitioners are required by law to have this cover.
KMPDC's warning came just a week after a major shift from manual paperwork to a fully digital facility registration system for medical facilities, expected to enhance transparency, efficiency, and data security across the sector.
According to KMPDC's CEO, David Kariuki, the digital overhaul aligns with Kenya’s digital transformation agenda, which seeks to integrate technology into public service delivery and governance.
To register for the new system, applicants must provide the facility name, location, and classification; details of director(s); services offered; personnel available; and certified documentation to demonstrate compliance with applicable laws.
