Clinical officers in Kenya have petitioned President William Ruto to intervene in the implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA), citing systemic discrimination and bureaucratic hurdles that undermine their role in healthcare delivery.
Speaking during the 16th Annual Scientific Conference for Clinical Officers in Malindi, Kenya Clinical Officers Association (KCOA) President, Moses Konde Matole, decried what he termed as a deliberate scheme to sideline clinical officers, despite their pivotal role in the country’s healthcare system.
He emphasized that clinical officers are well-trained professionals with the requisite skills, regulated by an Act of Parliament through the Clinical Officers Council (COC).
“It is unfortunate that despite our extensive training and contribution to healthcare, we are being systematically undermined.
Clinical officers play a vital role at all levels of healthcare, yet we are being denied the authority to pre-authorize specialized procedures.
This is not just unfair but also a major setback for universal healthcare in Kenya,” Matole said.
Patrick Chemosit, a clinical officer from Bungoma County, echoed these concerns, stating that SHA was initially formulated to improve healthcare access for all Kenyans.
However, he alleged that cartels within the Ministry of Health have hijacked the system, limiting the ability of clinical officers to function effectively.
“The Director General of Health knows very well that 80% of healthcare services in this country are delivered by clinical officers, yet decisions made at Afya House seem to deliberately exclude us.
The question we are asking Dr. Amoth is: why are the main drivers of healthcare being blocked from serving Kenyans?”
Chemosit further lamented that clinical officers have been on strike for over 15 days, simply demanding to be involved in SHA decision-making.
He termed the continued exclusion of clinical officers as unconstitutional, urging President Ruto to take immediate action to rectify the situation.
The clinical officers also accused the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) of monopolizing the healthcare sector, by making policies that marginalize clinical officers at the expense of ordinary Kenyans.
Peterson Wachira, Chairman of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), criticized the new SHA system for forcing clinical officers to use medical officer licenses to pre-authorize procedures in their facilities.
This, he said, unfairly places clinical officers under the control of KMPDC, an organization predominantly for medical doctors.
“Clinical officers manage most Level 2 and 3 facilities in this country, where no medical officers are present. They also play a key role in outpatient services in Levels 4, 5, and 6. Why should they be forced to use a doctor’s license to prescribe procedures when they are fully qualified to do so?” Wachira said.
He further termed the SHA system as discriminatory and unacceptable, demanding that clinical officers be allowed to exercise their professional mandate without unnecessary restrictions.
“We are equally trained to provide these services, and we will not allow this discrimination to continue. Clinical officers are the backbone of Kenya’s healthcare system, and we demand the right to serve our people without unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles,” he said.
The clinical officers urged President Ruto to step in and address the injustices within SHA, warning that continued exclusion could lead to a healthcare crisis.
They emphasized that their fight is not just about professional recognition but also about ensuring Kenyans have access to timely and quality healthcare services.
As the standoff continues, all eyes are now on the government’s response to the grievances raised by clinical officers, who remain determined to secure their rightful place in the country’s healthcare framework.
