KMA logo. [Photo/britsinkenya.com]The Kenya Medical Association (KMA) has launched a program that is aimed at ensuring safe medical practice among health professionals in Kenya.
The program dubbed 'Medical Health Practitioners Health Program' (MHPHP) will ensure all doctors are in good physical and mental health owing to increase in medical malpractice among doctors affected by professional stressors.
Speaking at the 44th Annual KMA Scientific Conference in Kisumu, KMA Chief Executive Officer Dr Elizabeth Wala said Kenyan doctors are dying from preventable causes like substance use, suicide, cardiovascular disease and metabolic conditions that could easily be prevented with immediate interventions.
Mrs Wala said that the affected doctors have difficulty in practicing due to disabling chronic conditions. She observed that cases of medical malpractice which are on the increase in the country are fueled partly by conditions such as neuropsychiatric conditions and substance related conditions.
“It is against this backdrop that we have come up with a mechanism to help doctors in need in pursuant of the Hippocratic injunction,” said Dr Wala.
The MHPHP initiative will be rolled out on the basis of self, colleagues and supervisor referrals from medical practitioners.
At the national level KMA will constitute a committee comprising of experts in mental health and senior specialists in other areas.
At the county level, divisional committees comprising senior members will handle the referrals.
“The committee will assure absolute confidentiality while handling referrals to ensure that the medics affected gain confidence in the program to be able to enroll in numbers and seek help. MHPHP will provide a list of health providers within the reach of impaired doctors,” she said.
She said the medics are required to follow through with the treatment plans or carry out any recommendations from the committees of those they are referred to without failure.
In the case of colleague referrals, due diligence will be carried out by the committee to ascertain the reports before further action is taken.
On the treatment and rehabilitation options, she said the MHPHP will provide a list of providers within reach of the impaired doctors however proof of the initial commitment and continuous treatment will be required.
The MHPHP program which will be managed by the medics association is expected to minimise the cases of health malpractices that have since seen the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board (KMPDB) move to devolve its function to the county level by the launch of professional conduct committees to handle cases within the locality of occurrence.
“Sometimes the affected medics are unable to practice but should they insist on working? KMA will inform the KMPDB to take action as necessary,” Dr Wala said.
Dr Wala now recommends that health and resilience be built in medical schools to help nurture young medics to deal with issues of burn out and substance abuse experienced by doctors across the counties.
“I urge medical practitioners to embrace a health and public service professional commitment to achieve a balance between occupational stressors and life challenges while fostering professional values for sustainability in the changing healthcare system,” recommended Dr Wala.