Kenya on Thursday urged Africa to strengthen its health care systems in order to patient safety.
Nakhumicha Wafula, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health said in speech read of her behalf by Dr Francis Kuria Head of the Directorate of Public Health in Nairobi that health care systems are complex and patient safety requires robust and effective regulation so that the health care system can provide the necessary resources and infrastructure.
“The challenge for medical regulators is to create relevant and fit for purpose effective systems that can respond to the rapidly changing environments in the health sector,” Kuria said during the opening of the association of medical councils of Africa (AMCOA) workshop.
The three day forum brought together regulatory and professional associations from Africa to review ways to harmonize their standards.
The conference was held under the of “Strengthening Governance of Health Regulation”.
Simon Nemutandani, President, Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) said that there is no reason to deny Africans global quality healthcare as the continent has the relevant talent to provide world class healthcare.
Nemutandani urged the African elite to seek the services of the local health facilities instead of going abroad for medical services.
“I wish to see our leaders to utilize public hospitals in order to inspire confidence for African hospitals,” he observed.
He added that harmonization of health training across the continent will allow the free movement of health personnel across the vast continent.