The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has redesigned its organizational structure, in a renewed effort to ensure better service provision and delivery of its mandate.
This is also aimed at aligning the Council to the requirements of State Corporations Advisory Committee (SCAC), following the categorization of the Council as regulatory agency PC6A, March, 2020.
According to KMPDC Council member and Chair of the Training, Assessment, Registration and Human Resource Committee Dr. Jacqueline Kitulu, the new structure sets forth the principles and rules which govern the administration of Human Resource and defnes the terms and conditions of service of all staff under the employment of the Council.
“The new structure couldn’t have come at a better time. The changes that come with it will ensure facilitation of the Council’s objectives through proper coordination, enhance synergy between directorates and eliminate duplication of work,” she said.
In the policy, the Council proposes reorganization into six departments and 4 stand-alone divisions, and staff establishment of 228 officers.
The departments will be: Training and Quality Assurance, Registration and Licensing, Compliance, Regulatory Affairs, Human Resource and Administration as well as Finance.
However, the Council’s Human Resource Manager, John Mburu notes that a review of its organizational structure will have financial implications occasioned by the proposed optimal staffing numbers.
“To enable the Council contain the resultant expenditure on personnel emoluments, we have recommended that the optimal staffing levels be implemented in a phased out manner,” said Mburu.
KMPDC draws its legal existence from the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act (CAP 253) Laws of Kenya, with a mandate to regulate training, practice and licensing of medicine and dentistry and healthcare institutions that include private and mission hospitals, medical, dental centers and clinics, nursing and maternity homes and standalone funeral homes.
The training mandate, according to the new structure, will he handled by the Education, Training and Quality Assurance Department, to be headed by a Director.
“The functions of the department will entail establishing and maintaining uniform norms and standards of the learning of medicine and dentistry in Kenya. This also includes approving and registering medical and dental schools, maintain a record of medical and dental students, conducting internship qualifying exams as well as accrediting new and existing institutions for medical and dental internship,” said Dr Kitulu.
Headed by a Director, the Compliance Department will carry out regular inspections, carry out pre-registration and participate in the development of minimum requirements on infrastructure, personnel and service provision.
It is recommended that the department be organized into two divisions; accreditation and inspectorate, each headed by a Deputy Director.
The Regulatory Affairs Department will be tasked with determining and setting a framework for professional practice of medical and dental practitioners. The functions also include regulating health institutions and taking disciplinary action for any form of misconduct by a health institution.
It is recommended that the department headed by a Director and organized into two subdivision, standards and complaints handling, each headed by a deputy director.
The Human Resource and Administration Department will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and coordination of human resource while the Finance and Planning Department will ensure effective financial management.
Four standalone divisions; Corporate Communication, Supply Chain Management, Corporate Secretary and Internal Audit, will offer support services.
Mburu says the reorganization of the Council structure aims at improving service delivery and will go a long way in ensuring proper guidelines for grading of staff and their career progression. This focuses mainly on promotions and re-designations.
