The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has issued fresh guidelines to health facility owners and stakeholders on how to appeal against decisions regarding facility classification and bed capacity allocation.

In a public notice released on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, the council addressed the growing number of concerns raised by healthcare providers following reviews of their facility levels and the number of beds allocated.

“The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has received numerous inquiries from facility owners and stakeholders concerning the levels and bed capacities assigned to their respective facilities,” read part of the statement.

KMPDC clarifies appeal procedures

To streamline the appeals process, the Council outlined a clear timeline and procedure for raising objections or requests for review. One key highlight is the mandatory 90-day waiting period before any appeal relating to closure, partial closure, or downgrade of a facility can be lodged.

“We wish to clarify the following:

Appeals resulting from the closure, partial closure, or downgrade of a health facility shall only be addressed 90 days after the change in status. This period allows the affected facility adequate time to fully address all identified gaps. Such changes in categorization have significant and cascading impacts on the operations of other government agencies. Health facilities are therefore required to operate strictly within their licensed scope to prevent disruptions and inconveniences to the broader health system.”

Additionally, facilities looking to update their assigned bed capacity have been directed to submit official written requests for inspection no later than August 8, 2025.

“Similarly, any facility that wishes to update its assigned bed capacity must submit an official written request for inspection by August 8, 2025. A verification exercise is currently ongoing to confirm the status of facilities based on these requests. All applications will be processed in the order in which they are received. Once a request is submitted, applicants are urged to be patient as their cases are scheduled and addressed.”

KMPDC further encouraged healthcare stakeholders to adhere to the set guidelines, assuring them of fairness and diligence in the evaluation process.

“We appreciate the cooperation of all stakeholders and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring transparency, consistency, and accuracy in facility classification.”

The Council plays a regulatory role in maintaining standards across Kenya’s healthcare system, ensuring that medical facilities are properly categorized, licensed, and adequately equipped to serve the public.