Kenya is exploring the expansion of its existing Bilateral Labour Agreement with the United Kingdom to include clinical officers and physician associates.
The Principal Secretary, State Department for Labour and Skills Development, Shadrack Mwadime, revealed this today, when he addressed an international gathering of the 5th Global Association of Clinical Officers and Physician Associates (GACOPA) held at Aston University in Birmingham, UK.
According to the PS, this will not only respond to global demand for healthcare workers but also safeguard professional recognition and mobility through formal and sustainable arrangements.
“On recognition and licensing of Kenya Clinical Officers by the UK’s General Medical Council (GMC), we support this transformative development and commit to advocate for the formal inclusion of Clinical Officers in regulated migration frameworks and employment streams in the UK and other partner nations,” he said.
Mwadime revealed that currently the government of Kenya is implementing a Bilateral Labour Agreement with the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, for a collaboration framework which has established a structured pathway for migration that benefits both countries while safeguarding the rights and professional development of Kenyan workers.
The PS noted that the challenges facing global health cannot be met by any single country in isolation and urged for priority to be placed on forging strong partnerships with governments, academic institutions, professional associations and international organisations to promote the international recognition of the health workforce, harmonise standards of training and practice, and contribute to more resilient health systems worldwide.
The conference, which has drawn delegates from 74 member states of GACOPA from across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, seeks to strengthen professional identity, enhance skills recognition, and firmly position healthcare workers at the heart of global health solutions.
Among the Kenyan delegation are Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health Patrick Munene and National Chairman for the Kenya Clinical Officers Association (KCOA) Peterson Wachira.
