By PATRICK BEJA
The health sector still has many quacks who risk lives of Kenyans, a Government regulatory agency has revealed. The Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (MPDB) said yesterday it was planning a major raid in coastal counties to flush out quacks.
“We are not going to accept the excuse that unregistered people operate healthcare institutions because they are jobless. They should give that excuse in the courts,” MPDB chief executive officer Daniel Yumbya said yesterday. Speaking during the 42nd scientific conference organised by the Kenya Medical Association, Mr Yumbya said most quacks operate in informal settlements.
“We will engage the Attorney-General with a view to getting the penalties for operating illegally as a medical practitioner enhanced to deter the quacks. The days of these quacks are numbered,” said Yumbya.
He added that it does not make sense for a quack to be fined Sh10,000 because they usually return to the illegal business.
He said this year, the board has conducted raids in other regions of the country and is now targeting the Coast region. The board inspected between 700 and 800 health facilities to flush out quacks.