The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has issued a directive requiring health facilities operating in restricted locations—such as petrol stations and residential buildings—to relocate within six months or face closure.
The council cited infection risks and patient safety concerns as the primary reasons behind the directive, emphasizing that such locations are unsuitable for healthcare services.
In a statement released on Wednesday, KMPDC underscored that operating healthcare facilities in restricted areas poses serious health hazards, including the spread of infections and compromised patient safety.
“Health facilities located in restricted areas, such as petrol stations and residential buildings, are hereby notified that these locations are unsuitable for healthcare operations. This restriction aims to reduce the spread of infections and ensure the safety of patients,” the statement read.
Beyond infection risks, the council also raised concerns about other safety hazards linked to these locations.
“Additionally, safety concerns such as risks from flammable materials, inadequate infrastructure, and disturbances that compromise patient care necessitate this directive,” KMPDC stated.
Health facilities that fail to comply with the relocation order within the stipulated timeline will be shut down as part of efforts to create a safer environment for both patients and the surrounding community.
The directive comes just weeks after the Ministry of Health instructed KMPDC to shut down unregistered aesthetic clinics and beauty spas operating without proper authorization.
A recent assessment of plastic surgery and invasive cosmetic procedure clinics revealed that while 77 percent met the required legal standards, 23 percent failed to comply with existing regulations.
Concerns over unregulated medical practices intensified after the high-profile death of a patient following a cosmetic procedure at a Nairobi-based clinic late last year.
In response, the government is working on a regulatory framework to oversee invasive cosmetic procedures performed in both beauty and medical spas, ensuring compliance and patient safety.