Gov’t Passes Bill to Curb Impunity, Malpractices in Health Sector

The Cabinet approved the Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill, 2025, on Tuesday, July 29, following a meeting chaired by President William Ruto at State House.

A report released after the meeting indicated that the bill is part of government efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and restore public trust.

"The Bill seeks to eliminate systemic fraud, regulatory loopholes, and conflicts of interest that have long undermined healthcare delivery and public trust. It responds to glaring gaps that have allowed unqualified and fraudulent health facilities to be licensed and to operate," the report read.

According to the Cabinet, the healthcare system is marred by weak oversight, poor regulation, and unchecked malpractice, which have exposed patients to unsafe conditions.

"This lack of clear standards, coupled with weak oversight and collusion among facilities, regulators, and practitioners, has left patients vulnerable and eroded accountability," the report continued.

The Cabinet noted that many of the failures stem from the aforementioned issues and that the new law is designed to overhaul the regulatory framework.

"Cabinet noted that the many failures in the health system were a direct result of these weaknesses. The new Bill establishes a unified quality assurance framework and introduces strict mandatory licensing, registration, and accreditation for all health facilities, labs, and ambulance services. 

"The legislation will also create a powerful Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Authority, tasked with enforcing national care standards, overseeing implementation, and monitoring performance," the report added.

The proposed Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Authority will be mandated with regulating and inspecting institutions, while also enforcing patients' rights.

"The proposed law introduces quality improvement plans at the facility level, enforces patient rights, and sets clear criteria for emergency medical services, as the government aims to finally tackle the root causes of health sector corruption, protect patients, and deliver safe, effective, and high-standard healthcare that universal health coverage pledges," the report further read.