What's in a title? Clinical officers sue to be 'doctor'

Nairobi County Clinical Officers protest during a strike that paralysed operations in hospitals, at the Green Park, on April 24, 2025. [File, Standard]

What's in the title doctor? This title, awarded to medics after training, is at the centre of a court battle between clinical officers and the Attorney General, the Clinical Officers Council, and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC).

Ibrahim Kimani Wainaina and Daniel Koome Ndegwa have a bachelor's degree in clinical medicine. In their case before High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi, they say they represent the Clinical Medicine Graduates Association.

Their only contention is they are not called doctors, as their counterparts who study medicine. In their case, Kimani and Koome argue that the government and the council have discriminated against clinical medicine graduates despite being critical healthcare personnel.

According to them, a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine (BCM) is designed to train students in medicine and surgery. They argue that those who graduate in the area are taught to integrate clinical practice, disease prevention, and public health initiatives.

According to them, this mirrors the structure and demands of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degrees as they all learn about anatomy, pathology, Biochemistry, psychiatry, psychology, pharmacology, forensic medicine, internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology.

"The title 'Doctor' is a professional and courtesy title used by a wide range of health professionals, including dentists (BDS) and pharmacists (B-Pharm). Dentists and pharmacists in Kenya use the title "Doctor" even though they do not practice general medicine and are restricted to their specific areas of study. BCM graduates, who study general medicine, should therefore be entitled to the title "Doctor," just like their counterparts MBChB graduates, who also practice general medicine," Kimani and Koome argue.

They assert that clinical medicine graduates are recognised as doctors in other countries, such as South Sudan, Zanzibar, and even China.

They argued that those who pursue Master of Clinical Medicine (MCMed) enter into different specialties such as Reproductive Health (Obstetrics and Gynaecology), Pediatrics and Child Health, forensic medicine, family medicine, Oncology and Palliative Care and are recognised as specialists, yet, they are not referred to as doctors.

"This presents an unfair and discriminatory practice, and it highlights the need for equal recognition of BCM graduates as doctors," the two medics said.

The court heard that the problem starts with the law. Kimani and Koome said Section 2 of the Clinical Officers (Training, Registration and Licensing) Act refers to anyone who has undergone training as a diploma or degree holder in clinical medicine as a clinical officer.

They stated that this is despite them possessing the same qualifications as medical doctors. Clinical officers expressed discontent that the law had deprived them of the privileges associated with the title of doctor.

The two further said they are perceived as inferior medical practitioners despite the government only admitting those with A or A- for the gruelling five-year programme at universities, which includes a one-year internship program.

According to them, a clinical medicine graduate takes more hours in class, with 6670 hours of training, than a medical practitioner who is in class for 5,500 hours. The case will be mentioned on June 18, 2025.