A section of Kenyan doctors have uncovered a syndicate in which their foreign counterparts fly into the country to attend medical camps, only to scavenge for unsuspecting patients whom they refer abroad in a money minting scheme.
The Kenya Orthopaedic Association (KAU) and Kenya Association of Urological Surgeons (KAUS) has also accused local doctors of facilitating the fraud for monetary benefits.
The foreign doctors who fly into the country to offer 'training' on how to handle chronic diseases are allegedly creating links to source for patients.
According to the associations, the links ensure regular flow of patients suffering from ailments that can even be treated locally.
“The foreigners coming through our airports in the name of medical camps to take patients abroad are not here to enjoy the Kenyan weather, neither are they here to marvel at Masai Mara – they are here for business,” Dr Kigera, Secretary General of KAU was quoted by the Business Daily.
“Recently I was informed of a case where a purported doctor from India recruited patients in Maua, Meru County, for overseas operations with the blessing of local facilities,” he added.
The foreigners are reportedly charging Sh1,000 and Sh2,000 for consultation fees in the medical camps, which pool patients together for specialised care.
According to Dr Aideen Kataan, these illegal activities are perpetuated due to the general complacency by the local oversight agencies.
Last year, around 10,000 kenyans flew abroad to seek treatment with a big number going to India. This is estimated to have cost the country around Sh10 Billion.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board on Wednesday downplayed the concerns saying it was not aware of any unlicensed foreign doctors practising locally.
“Our position has always been that all foreigners must have a license from the medical board to practice locally,” the board’s chief executive, Daniel Yumbya affirmed.
The claims come as 880 Kenyan doctors are being investigated for allegedly being involved in a syndicate that fraudulently referred cancer patients abroad, yet they could be treated locally.
Read also: REVEALED: How Doctors are Conning Cancer Patients Sent to India
