KMPDB may not license 48 doctors studying in Cuba due to curriculum differences

48 Kenyan doctors studying in Cuba may not be allowed to practice in the country once they get back, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB) has warned.

According to the board, the doctors would have to go through a one year course, in addition to the two years spent in Cuba, once they come back for KMPDB to issue them with licences.

The doctors, who have just completed their first year in Cuba, are studying general comprehensive medicine, a course that is also offered in Kenya but the Kenyan standards require a full year of study in the surgery discipline.

KMPD Chairperson Dr Eva Njenga (front), the board may not license 48 doctors studying in Cuba due to curriculum differences Pulse Live Kenya

The board's chairperson Eva Njenga and a member of the board Dr Nelly Bosire recently made a trip to Cuba in a bid to realign the two courses.

They have since made recommendations and are awaiting a response from Health CAS Dr Rashid Aman who was placed in charge of the Cuba-Kenya doctors exchange program.

Kenyan doctor dies in Cuba

In March this year, one of the doctors enrolled in the program unfortunately passed away while in Cuba.

Dr Hamisi Ali Juma was related to Likoni Member of Parliament Mishi Mboko, his death was said to have been a suicide.

"Maybe two weeks or one week ago he had complained to me and he said that they were experiencing a lot of difficulties. He said that the payment they were getting is not what they had agreed [with the government] and he also complained about a lot of mistreatment.

"He was talking a lot and he had, in fact, decided to come back to Kenya. He said enough is enough, he does not need to study in Cuba and he was coming back," the MP recounted her last conversation with Dr Hamisi.