CS Duale presides over KMPDU’s 9th Annual Delegates Conference

The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, Saturday presided over the 9th Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), held at a Mombasa hotel.

The conference is part of the Ministry’s deliberate and strategic engagement towards strengthening the country’s healthcare workforce.

Held under the theme “Caring for the Caregivers: Prioritizing Doctors’ Rights and Well-being for a Healthier Nation,” the conference focused on strategies to improve the welfare of healthcare professionals particularly doctors, pharmacists, and dentists.

Addressing the longstanding grievances in the health sector, Duale highlighted the Ministry’s ongoing strategic investments aimed at growing and protecting human resources for health.

He also announced plans to convene a multi-stakeholder forum to collaboratively chart a sustainable path forward in resolving the sector’s prolonged and evolving challenges.

The Cabinet Secretary updated delegates on key health sector reforms, including the digitization of health services and the establishment of the Social Health Authority both central pillars in the roll-out of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, who was also present, emphasized the importance of continuous dialogue in resolving sectoral challenges.

He reaffirmed his commitment to equipping medical facilities for delivery of first-class health services, noting that digitization is a critical step in improving service quality at grassroots level and in weeding out unqualified practitioners.

In his keynote address, Duale instructed the Union to reinspect and ensure compliance across all medical training institutions in the country, a key step in strengthening the quality of healthcare services and professionals.

Duale also reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to implementing the Return-to-Work Formula (RTWF), assuring the KMPDU leadership and members present of continued strategic engagement with key stakeholders to restore public trust and fast-track UHC implementation.

Medical Services Principal Secretary, Dr. Ouma Oluga, underscored the Ministry’s focus on building policy platforms for structured engagement and reforms in the health sector.

“There must be one voice, and one unified vision in the health sector,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, the Cabinet Secretary called on doctors to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism as enshrined in the Constitution.

He also urged the Union to assess and ensure proper vetting of all licensed foreign doctors operating in the country.

The conference also marked the one-year anniversary of the historic 56-day doctors’ strike a powerful reminder of the resilience and unity of Kenya’s medical professionals in their quest for a better health system.

Duale was accompanied by Principal Secretaries Dr. Ouma Oluga for Medical Services and Mary Muthoni for Public Health.

He was received by Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and the KMPDU leadership led by Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah and Chairperson Dr. Abi Mwachi. Several senior Ministry officials also attended the event.