African Doctors meet in Kenya for Licensing conference

Doctors, medical scholars and personnel from 22 African countries are meeting in Mombasa Kenya to develop protocols on reciprocal licensing for practitioners across the globe.

According to Mr Daniel Yumbya, [Chief executive officer; Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board], the new protocols will prevent deregistered medical practitioners from practicing in other countries thereby eliminating the risks thereby posed to the lives of the patients they encounter.

Deliberations on the licensing of foreign doctors is also ongoing. This is due to an upsurge currently being experienced in Africa.

Mr Yumbya said that while some foreign doctors are qualified some others have questionable qualifications thereby risking the lives of others.

“We want to curb cases of doctors who have been deregistered in their mother countries due to indiscipline cases from crossing over to other countries and practice,” he said.

“We want to ensure only the best practitioners are allowed to work in our country. Medical tourism is also important. We want to know which country in Africa is giving universal health coverage,” he added.

“Kenya is looking forward to (winning) the Friday elections. Prof Magoha will be back to lead the association,” he added. 

[Prof George Magoha, is the President of the Association of Medical Council of Africa.]

Mr Yumbya said the conference gives the practitioners an opportunity to share experiences on the best and worst practices.

Kenya currently has a shortage of ophthalmologists.

A statement by Dr Ibrahim Matende, President of the College of Ophthalmology of Eastern Central and Southern Africa further alluded to the shortage of eye specialists and resources across Africa.

“We are running short of human resources in Africa while our specialists are soaring high overseas. African countries should train more eye specialists,” he added.