Accreditation as a Strategic Lever: KENAS CEO Champions Quality and Mobility in Healthcare at AMCOA 2025
The 27th Annual Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) provided a timely platform to highlight the transformative power of accreditation in strengthening healthcare systems across the continent.
Speaking at the high-level event, Dr. Walter Ongeti, CEO of Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS), delivered a compelling call to action:
“Accreditation is not a tick-box—it's a strategic tool for trust, mobility, and quality healthcare.”
He urged medical councils and regulatory bodies across Africa to embed accreditation into their core operations—not just for compliance, but as a driver for excellence, accountability, and global alignment.
A Historic Milestone: KMPDC First to Achieve ISO/IEC 17024 Accreditation
During the conference, Dr. Ongeti celebrated the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) for becoming the first medical council in Africa accredited to ISO/IEC 17024 for the certification of persons. This significant achievement sets a powerful precedent for other regulatory bodies across the continent.
“KMPDC has shown that regulatory excellence is achievable. Their accreditation not only ensures the competence of healthcare professionals but also builds confidence in the council’s oversight function,” said Dr. Ongeti.
He noted that KMPDC is now preparing for ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation—further cementing its role as a trusted authority in healthcare products and services regulation.
Accreditation: A Key Enabler of Continental Integration
In a one-on-one discussion with AMCOA President Prof. Joel Okullo, Dr. Ongeti underscored accreditation’s role in supporting Africa’s integration agenda under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063. He emphasized that:
- Accreditation facilitates mutual recognition of medical qualifications
- It promotes mobility of skilled health professionals across borders
- It helps regulatory bodies align with global standards and practices
- It builds public trust in healthcare systems
“As Africa looks to strengthen intra-continental trade and professional mobility, accreditation provides the mechanism for ensuring that healthcare practitioners meet a verifiable standard of competence—no matter where they are trained or licensed,” said Dr. Ongeti.
KENAS: Supporting a Culture of Quality Across Africa
With 282 accredited clients across 12 African countries, KENAS is playing a key role in strengthening quality infrastructure through the accreditation of laboratories, certification bodies, inspection agencies, and regulatory authorities. The organization continues to offer technical assistance, including assessor training, twinning agreements, and capacity building—especially for emerging accreditation bodies.
KENAS’ engagement at AMCOA 2025 reaffirms its commitment to:
- Promoting quality health systems
- Enhancing trust in regulatory frameworks
- Supporting the mobility of healthcare professionals
- Driving the harmonization of accreditation systems across Africa
Why Healthcare Regulatory Bodies Must Get Accredited
The role of Medical Councils and Professional Regulatory Bodies goes beyond licensing—it includes protecting public health, enforcing standards, and ensuring practitioner competence. Accreditation strengthens these functions by:
- Providing internationally recognized validation of their systems
- Ensuring transparency, impartiality, and consistency
- Facilitating data-driven oversight and compliance
- Opening doors for cross-border collaboration and global recognition
Now more than ever, accreditation must be seen as a regulatory necessity, not a luxury.
Conclusion
As the African healthcare sector evolves, medical regulatory bodies must rise to the occasion by institutionalizing accreditation as a tool for professional trust, systemic efficiency, and continental unity. The time to act is now—and KENAS is proud to walk alongside institutions committed to excellence.
