KENYA-President Uhuru Kenyatta will officially open The International Conference on the Review and Harmonization of the Curriculum and Training of Health Professionals scheduled to take place in Kenya.
The first planned health workforce conference under the theme “Repositioning today’s health workforce development for the future” will bring together delegates from over 99 countries.
The event creates an opportunity for stakeholders to provide insights on how to integrate the curriculum and training of health professionals as well as strengthen their capabilities to support the Universal Health Coverage agenda.
The conference will also focus on ways of enhancing governance in cadre recognition, formulating regulatory frameworks along with schemes of service and scope of practice for improved workforce management.
The summit will be held from 7th to 9th of February at Sarova White Sands Hotel in Mombasa for key speakers present while other participants will attend virtually in line with the COVID-19 health protocols.
It will promote health care reforms aimed at strengthening technical and soft skill competencies besides enhancing future job readiness of health professionals.
Local, regional and international corporations, medical institutions, trainers and providers will also have an opportunity to showcase their work at exhibition stands during the conference.
The Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced information about the summit during the launch of the English language training programme for nurses at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Nairobi.
He said the government remains committed in supporting young Kenyan professionals to get the best training and related opportunities globally.
The training will create a workforce that is internationally able, internationally qualified and internationally recognized including an increase in the number of health workers in Kenya.
“Kenya is training health workers for the local, regional and global community since demographics across the world have created unanticipated opportunities,” stated Kagwe.
He affirmed that the state would not send health workers to the United Kingdom at the expense of its health system but hire doctors and nurses in accordance with its ability.
Mutahi Kagwe further advocated for pattern changes in the training of healthcare professionals to enhance their global competitiveness.
Changes in Health Sector
As the world is moving towards digital health, the health CS said the Kenyan government is revolutionizing the health sector to ensure that health facilities embrace Information, Communication and Technology in their operations.
Additionally, holistic training will ensure that patients, especially in public facilities, enjoy competitive and best available care of service.
Despite meeting the same qualifications, services in private and public hospital are different thus dire need to improve customer service and non-clinical issues.
“We must harmonize and standardize the cost of medical procedures by appreciating that there is a government that has subsidized services and a private sector that has to survive because of other aspects” emphasized the CS.
Consequently, he assured that the ongoing reforms at the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) were meant to sustain the gains registered in recent years and ensure that every Kenyan access quality and affordable healthcare.
There are ongoing NHIF negotiations with stakeholders engaged to have an appropriate contracting agreement between the National Health Insurance Fund and healthcare providers in line with the NHIF Act.
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