NAIROBI,Kenya, Jun 10- The Kenya Dental Association (KDA) has sounded the alarm over what it describes as the growing proliferation of unregulated healthcare training programmes, warning that the trend could compromise patient safety, undermine professional standards and leave thousands of students with qualifications that may not be recognised.
In a statement, the association accused institutions of introducing healthcare courses without adequate consultation, accreditation or approval from the statutory bodies responsible for regulating medical education and professional practice.
The dentists’ lobby warned that healthcare education cannot be treated like ordinary academic programmes because graduates directly handle the health and lives of patients.
“We express grave concern over the continued establishment and implementation of healthcare training programmes without adequate engagement, consultation and approval from the relevant statutory and professional regulatory bodies responsible for healthcare education, training standards, professional registration and patient safety,” the association said.
At the centre of the dispute is the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Oral Health degree programme, whose accreditation and implementation have attracted criticism from dental professionals.
The KDA said it has serious professional and regulatory concerns regarding the continued accreditation of the programme, arguing that it does not align with established competency frameworks, professional standards and scope of practice governing dental healthcare delivery in Kenya.
The association warned that students enrolled in improperly accredited healthcare courses risk finding themselves unable to secure professional registration or licences after graduation.
According to the KDA, graduates from such programmes may face rejection by employers and professional regulatory boards, forcing them to undertake expensive retraining or bridging courses.
Parents and sponsors, the association added, also stand to lose significant amounts of money by investing in programmes that may ultimately fail to meet professional recognition requirements.
However, the association stressed that patients face the greatest danger.
It cautioned that programmes lacking proper accreditation, qualified faculty, adequate clinical exposure and standardised competency assessments could produce healthcare workers with critical gaps in knowledge, skills and professional judgement.
“Training programmes that lack proper accreditation, adequate clinical exposure, qualified faculty and standardized competency assessments may produce graduates with critical deficiencies in knowledge, skills and professional judgment,” the statement said.
The KDA warned that the emergence of what it termed “backdoor” pathways into healthcare professions threatens to reverse decades of progress made in strengthening healthcare education and regulation in Kenya.
The association is now calling on the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, the Commission for University Education and professional regulatory councils to urgently investigate programmes whose accreditation status, clinical training arrangements and professional recognition remain unclear.
Among its recommendations, the KDA wants regulators to strengthen coordination in approving healthcare programmes, ensure professional bodies are consulted before health-related courses are authorised, publish clear lists of approved programmes and institutions, conduct regular compliance audits and take enforcement action against institutions operating outside legal frameworks.
KDA President Dr. Kahura Mundia said Kenya risks a future marked by declining healthcare quality, erosion of public trust in health professionals and preventable harm to patients if urgent action is not taken.
“The time for decisive regulatory action is now,” the association said, insisting that patient safety, professional integrity and public confidence in healthcare must remain paramount.
