The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union wants the Health ministry to investigate claims some doctors are colluding with businesspeople to send patients to India.
The union said it has unearthed a cartel where doctors refer patients to India at a commission, despite treatment being available locally.
It said the doctors have been referring patients suffering from chronic ailments.
KMPPDU secretary general Ouma Oluga said Kenya is losing Sh10 billion annually to patients’ being treated abroad.
He said the money could be used to improve infrastructure in most –public hospitals.
Oluga said any doctor involved will have his licence cancelled.
“There may be genuine cases here and there, but any doctor who goes against ethics knows very clearly that he or she has no place in the profession,” he said.
Oluga said prominent individuals, including politicians, are involved.
He said 15 companies are in the cartel and urged the government to intervene.
“These companies are registered and belong to politicians or even patients who have been in India before and are known. This is why we want them investigated,” Oluga said.
He was addressing the press on the sidelines of a Cotu and National Hospital Insurance Fund officials’ meeting at the Great Rift Valley Lodge in Naivasha.
