Misregulation Of Dentistry And Illegal Scope Of Practice By Kenya Medical Practitioners And Dentists Council

As a professional society, we express outrage and extreme disappointment at the misregulation of dentistry and the illegal publication of a Scope of Practice of Dentistry by KMPDC. The chairperson of the council, Prof. Stanley Khainga, has failed to withdraw an illegal scope of practice in dentistry intended to harm members of the public through substandard dental care access. This is despite the council being mandated to guarantee that all Kenyans access the highest attainable standard of health care.

The Kenya Dental Association's mission is to promote the interests of the public in oral healthcare access matters and to set high standards of service delivery by professional dentists.

Among the KMPDC's core functions, as determined by the Medical and Dental Practitioners' Act Cap 253 of 2019, are:

• To establish and maintain uniform norms and standards on the learning of medicine and dentistry in Kenya;
• To determine and set a framework for the professional practice of medical practitioners and dentists;

The KMPDC's actions encourage the practice of dentistry without any foundational curriculum training and competence of persons—a very hazardous and inhumane concept for patient care safety. This goes against the fundamental promise made by the Constitution of Kenya of 2010 and the Health Act of 2017 on healthcare standards and consumer patient services protection.

"Every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which shall include progressive access for the provision of promotive, preventive, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative services."