Health Cabinet Secretary Nominee Deborah Barasa has addressed concerns about the last-minute renewal of her practicing license with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) following her nomination last month.
After President William Ruto announced Dr. Barasa as his Health CS designee on July 19, it was noted that her name was missing from the KMPDC practitioners list.
Reports indicated that Barasa had been removed from the register for non-compliance with Section 14 of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act as of May 2019.
However, by the end of the day, she had settled the sh.80,050 owed to the council, and her name was reinstated in the online register.
During her vetting by the National Assembly Committee on Appointments at County Hall in Nairobi on Thursday, Dr. Barasa explained that she did not renew her license after joining the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020.
She was engaged in international work as a policy advisor for 22 countries in East and Southern Africa and the 47 Afro region member states.
Dr. Barasa clarified her professional status, stating, “I am a qualified doctor, registered under A6275. I was a clinical officer from 2007 to 2020 and compliant with license renewals.”
She also elaborated on her recent license renewal, stating, “Out of respect for the Kenyan medical environment and my new role as cabinet secretary, I renewed my clinical practice license.”
In addition, Dr. Barasa disclosed her net worth as sh.455 million, a figure she attributed to both her and her husband’s assets.
She also committed to restoring the Linda Mama program if confirmed as Health CS.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee, Dr. Barasa emphasized her personal connection to the Linda Mama program, which provides comprehensive maternity care.
She pledged to work on a transition plan to ensure the program’s continuation during the shift from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
“If confirmed, I will ensure that Linda Mama is incorporated into the SHIF,” she said.
“We need a transition plan to make sure that this vital program continues to cover mothers and children.”
Dr. Barasa also supported the establishment of a National Health Service commission, a long-standing demand of health unions, and stressed the need for effective public communication about the SHIF to enhance its adoption. Current data shows 464,263 Kenyans have registered for SHIF out of a target of 15 million.
“We need robust communication with the community to raise awareness and encourage uptake of the new fund,” Barasa concluded.
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