Hospitals Upgrade Systems to Improve Patient Safety

Kenyan hospitals are stepping up efforts to improve patient safety by strengthening systems and regulatory oversight. The Ministry of Health, spearheaded by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, has highlighted reforms including tighter licensing, accreditation, and monitoring of both public and private medical facilities. These measures aim to curb malpractice, fraud, and unsafe practices, rebuilding public trust in health institutions.
The reforms are anchored on the Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill, 2025, which was recently endorsed by Cabinet. Under the proposed law, a new independent Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Authority will be established to enforce national standards, license facilities, and conduct regular inspections. The Bill also mandates health facilities to develop quality improvement plans, clinical audits, and feedback mechanisms to detect and address safety risks. In addition, hospitals are being required to implement risk management systems, including reporting systems for unsafe incidents, to foster a culture of accountability.
Reaction from across the health sector has been mixed but largely optimistic. Health workers’ associations like the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council have expressed support for stronger regulation, while some laboratory officers have raised concerns about professional autonomy and centralisation of authority. On the financing front, the Ministry is also tying patient safety reforms to Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) ambitions, using the Social Health Authority (SHA) model to reward hospitals that deliver safer, more efficient care.Looking ahead, government leaders argue that these reforms could mark a turning point — if fully implemented — in Kenya’s journey to providing safer, more reliable healthcare for all.