National Assembly’s Committee on Health chair James Nyikal (Seme)A parliamentary committee has given the government a 60-day ultimatum to undertake the accreditation of all health facilities across the country, after adoption of its report by the House.
The report, presented by National Assembly’s Committee on Health, outlines a comprehensive plan for the Ministry of Health, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), and the Social Health Authority (SHA) to complete the accreditation process within the specified time frame.
According to the committee’s report, which evaluates the proposed Annual Expenditure Estimates for the Financial Year 2025/26 and the Medium Term, the Ministry of Health, KMPDC, and SHA are required to submit a report on the findings after completing the accreditation process.
"Within the next 60 days after the adoption of this report, the Ministry of Health, KMPDC, and SHA should undertake the accreditation of all health facilities in the country and table a report of the findings," the committee stated.
Currently, the KMPDC is engaged in the classification and accreditation of health facilities, aimed at ensuring that they meet the required quality standards.
The accreditation process is also designed to confirm that these facilities are contracted by the Social Health Authority at the appropriate level of care.
This exercise is part of ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare quality and ensure that facilities across the country are compliant with established standards.
In addition to the health facility accreditation, the committee has called for a status report on the payment of stipends to Community Health Promoters for the 2024/25 financial year.
"Within the next 60 days after the adoption of this report, the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors are required to provide a status report on the payment of Community Health Promoters' stipends for the financial year 2024/25," the report noted.
The committee has also demanded that the report include the actual number and distribution of community health promoters throughout the country.
Furthermore, the committee has requested details of the total resource requirements for Community Health Promoters, to be funded under county government budgets.
These demands were issued as recommendations to the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, which is responsible for ensuring quality healthcare services and developing policies on healthcare standards, human resource development, and sanitation management.
The department is also tasked with providing strategic leadership and support to health professional bodies, creating frameworks for sharing professional experiences, and integrating these insights into future clinical practices.
