Clinical officers in Kenya have urged the Ministry of Health and the Social Health Authority (SHA) to grant them the right to preauthorize surgical procedures under the new health insurance framework in line with their training and scope of practice.
Through the Kenya Clinical Officers Association (KCOA), the Ophthalmic Clinical Officers Association (OCOA), and the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), the clinical officers emphasized their competency to perform procedures such as cataract surgeries and caesarean sections (CS).
The clinical officers, were speaking at a Malindi hotel during the 16th Annual Scientific Conference for Ophthalmic Clinical Officers, declared that performing surgeries without preauthorization would be unethical and vowed not to carry out procedures preauthorized by medical officers.
KCOA President Moses Konde Matole countered claims from the Kenya Medical Association regarding the competence of clinical officers in conducting surgeries.
He stated, “Clinical officers are well trained, possess the requisite skills, and are regulated by an Act of Parliament through the Clinical Officers Council.”
Matole highlighted the critical role clinical officers play at all levels of healthcare facilities, from dispensaries to national referral hospitals.
He argued that denying them preauthorization rights would restrict access to essential health services for the majority of Kenyans.
KUCO National Chairman Patterson Wachira underscored the long-standing contributions of clinical officers in addressing critical healthcare needs.
He noted that they have performed cataract surgeries for more than 34 years and caesarean sections for over 27 years.
Wachira explained that these responsibilities were initiated by the Ministry of Health in response to disease burdens that led to high maternal and neonatal mortality rates tasks that medical officers alone could not manage.
“It is the Ministry that requested the Clinical Officers’ Council and the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) to train clinical officers to conduct these surgeries due to the overwhelming disease burden,” he remarked.
Geoffrey Anaya, Kilifi County Eye Care Coordinator, called on SHA to adopt the established legal frameworks that guide clinical officers’ practice.
“If an ophthalmic surgeon is not empanelled to perform cataract surgery, the leading cause of blindness globally, patients will miss out on critical care. It is unethical for a surgeon to handle a procedure they cannot preauthorize,” he said.
OCOA Chairman George Ohito noted that more than 90 percent of cataract surgeries in Kenya are conducted by ophthalmic clinical officers and stressed the importance of empowering clinical officers, especially in regions where they are the primary often the sole caregivers.
“The government must facilitate the work of clinical officers at all levels to ensure they continue to benefit Kenyans,” he stated.
