Kenya Seeks Indian Expertise in Traditional Medicine

Kenya is seeking a high-level partnership with India on traditional medicine. Both nations are preparing for the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit. The summit will occur in New Delhi from December 17 to 19.

Summit Preparations Underway
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed a high-level preparatory meeting on Tuesday. He met with India’s High Commissioner, Dr. Adarsh Swaika. The meeting included PS Mary Muthoni and Indian Second Secretaries. Therefore, the meeting marked a new structured phase of cooperation. Duale expects the summit to focus on global standards and research. Thus, Kenya hopes to benefit from India’s strong expertise in complementary medicine.

Prioritizing Safety and Regulation
Duale explained the cooperation aims to improve patient safety and access to reliable therapies. Consequently, Kenya intends to strengthen its health regulatory environment. This ensures practitioners operate within clear legal frameworks. Duale cautioned that unregistered or rogue practitioners will not operate outside the law. Anyone facilitating illegal activities will face legal action. The government prioritizes evidence-based practices for care.

Advancing Healthcare Cooperation
The summit’s theme aligns with Kenya’s goal to achieve Universal Health Coverage. Kenya and India already enjoy strong ties in specialized treatment and training. Furthermore, the government plans to expand these engagements. This includes skills transfer in areas like oncology and vaccine technology. Duale emphasized Kenya’s potential to become a regional healthcare hub. He urged credible Indian hospitals to invest locally. Finally, Duale reaffirmed Kenya’s firm regulatory system, prioritizing patient safety.