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{
    "id": 882908,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/882908/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 148,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Sabina Chege (",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 884,
        "legal_name": "Sabina Wanjiru Chege",
        "slug": "sabina-wanjiru-chege"
    },
    "content": "Due to the gravity of the matter, the Committee re-opened the inquiry on its own volition, and re-looked into evidence initially adduced, and received fresh evidence in order to conclude on the matter with finality and address the overarching shortcomings in the registration of specialists in the field. The Committee noted that the matter of ophthalmology was serious as Kenyans may be at risk of accessing sub-standard services, posing an obvious danger of loss of eyesight. Hon. Speaker, the subject of healthcare is a serious matter as it is about life and death. The Committee is committed to helping the Government attain one of its key pillars of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and this will be through not just accessible and cost effective healthcare but also emphasis on quality. Just to take the House on the journey of ophthalmology and eye care in general, the importance of one’s vision and eyesight is central to one’s ability to earn a living and achieve their potential. It is on this basis that the Committee decided to look at this matter. The KMPDB has time and again come under our microscope for failing to enforce standards in the industry. They have come out softly on offending medics, including unsatisfactory remedies like reprimand, rather than de-licensing and heavily fining negligent professionals. We have seen unregulated clinics manned by quacks offering unchecked services. We call upon the board to step up its game and save unsuspecting and vulnerable Kenyans from risky services. Hon. Speaker, the Committee has further noted the following as regards eye care in this country: i) Optometrists have no regulatory authority. Once they complete their studies, they provide unchecked services to the general public, especially in private establishments. This is compounded by the fact that they have no scheme of service and are seldom absorbed by public hospitals - only about 10 out of 500 work in public hospitals. ii) There exists over 3,500 optical shops countrywide whose only requirement to provide eye care services is a county business permit. Most of the shops lack requisite equipment. iii) Many Kenyans continue to lose their eyesight to correctable ailments made worse by quacks in these optical shops. The Committee has demanded for answers from the Ministry of Health and will not relent until we reform this and other sectors in health. Hon. Speaker, from the evidence adduced in the specific matter of the irregular recognition of the Dr. Soni, the Committee observed that: 1. Dr. Soni graduated with a Master of Medicine in Ophthalmology in 2004 but her first application for specialist recognition was five years later on 5th February 2009, which was rejected as she did not meet the minimum qualifications. 2. She reapplied for recognition as a specialist in ophthalmology in November 2013 and it was followed by a written appeal dated 7th May 2014. The said application had recommendations from two referees namely Dr. Jyoti Trivedi and Dr. Millicent Kariuki Wanyoike. The application was considered and subsequently approved on 15th May 2014, as she was considered as having met the minimum requirements for such an application. 3. The KMPDB justified their approval on the basis of strength of the two referees being specialists themselves, the fact that Dr. Soni did not work directly under them notwithstanding, which is a requirement for specialist recognition. The board further justified their decision on the fact that the field lacks adequate specialists. In fact, the The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}