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{
    "id": 668363,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/668363/?format=api",
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    "content": "for the gullible public that here is a doctor. Using this title has been a getaway where individuals have managed to practice medicine without necessarily being doctors. We know that the title of a doctor is controversial. However, we are looking at that title as used by people in medical practice. This is the only time that you use that title to a person who has a first degree. In other situations, it is allowed that individuals can use the title “doctor” if they have a second degree even in humanities, business or other cases and not necessarily in medicine. When they have a post first degree qualification, then they can have that title. This is also defined and it is applicable elsewhere. Individuals with a first degree and are not medical practitioners are not eligible to use this title. Of course, we have issues with pharmacists many of whom who I know prefer to refer to themselves as doctors. Perhaps it is because they deal very closely with medical personnel, can dish out tablets over the counter and they will enhance their business if they use that title. This amendment will deal with that because it specifies that anybody using this title should do so deservingly. Unfortunately, it is only in the medical field that people rush into this. We do not see this in other professions. For example, have you found lawyers who pretend to be lawyers and call themselves learned friends? Unfortunately, they do not have a title to tag on their coats. This happens in medicine all the time. It is misleading the public. This Bill provides for a penalty not exceeding Kshs10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding two years or both. We know the seriousness of the misuse of this title of doctor. It leads to individuals to pretend to offer health services. This amendment Bill proposes to increase the penalty to a fine not exceeding Kshs300,000 or an imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, these medical practices and the amendments that I have suggested here look simple but I think in the application, they are very far reaching. These are amendments that will save the most precious thing that each one of us has and that is life. Our lives have been put to great risk by individuals who use all means and the weakness or non-severity of the law to deny Kenyans the proper medical services that they deserve. Medical services should only be offered by individuals who have been properly trained, undergone the entire course of training and perhaps even further through post graduate education or specialization areas that they are able to practice. So, we would want to use this amendment to make it safe for this country to have affordable medical treatment. This will ensure that medical practitioners are ethical and very professional in their practice. I urge that these amendments be supported by Senators after, of course, looking at them very critically. As they continue to look at them, we know that these amendments will go a long way in saving the lives of Kenyans. With that, I beg to move. I ask my colleague, a doctor in the medical field, as well and the Senator for Kakamega, to second the amendment."
}