CS Duale: Kenya to prioritize local practitioners before hiring foreign doctors

In a statement to newsrooms, CS Duale maintained that Kenyans trained using public resources must be given first priority to serve the country since the State has invested its resources to undertake the trainings in both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

CS Duale noted that the directive came after the Ministry of Health (MoH) observed cases where individuals sought registration to practise in Kenya despite lacking recognition in their countries of origin.

He noted that the directive is in line with the international best practice drawing contrasts from principles highlighted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), who maintain that countries should prioritise employment opportunities for their own qualified health workforce.

"No country world over has developed a sustainable health system with a foreign health workforce before considering the routine licensing of foreign doctors and other health professionals," Duale noted.

He noted that MoH will continue to exercise discretion by reviewing applications for foreign practitioners on a case-by-case basis.

The exercise will be strictly guided by national interest, and priority will only be given where there is a demonstrable skills gap, particularly in highly specialised or emerging fields where local capacity is not yet available or sub-optimal.

"This approach is neither isolationist nor unique to Kenya. Many countries—including high-income nations—apply similar policies that prioritise local professionals while allowing carefully regulated entry of foreign practitioners in exceptional circumstances," he added.