Kenya: opposition to merger of health regulatory bodies
Several health unions in Kenya have expressed opposition to the government's proposal to merge existing health regulatory bodies into a single entity. In a joint statement, these unions cautioned that such a merger could lead to increased bureaucracy, reduced accountability, and more complex licensing procedures. They advocate for maintaining the current system of peer regulation, where professionals monitor and evaluate each other, asserting it ensures higher quality care. The unions also criticized the lack of a well-researched justification for the proposed changes and suggested that the initiative might be driven by a minority viewpoint. They have issued a 14-day ultimatum for the withdrawal of the bill, threatening to strike if their demands are not met.