Duale Meets Indian High Commissioner Ahead of WHO Traditional Medicine Summit
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has held talks with the High Commissioner of India to Kenya, Dr Adarsh Swaika, ahead of the World Health Organization (WHO) Traditional Medicine Global Summit scheduled to take place in New Delhi from December 17 to 19.
The summit, themed “Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-being,” will focus on strengthening collaboration in the regulation, research, and safe use of traditional and complementary medicine. India is expected to share its extensive experience and global leadership in the sector.
Kenya is keen to learn from India’s progress in traditional medicine, while also showcasing Africa’s rich indigenous medical knowledge. The two countries will work closely with WHO to improve standards, build scientific evidence, and support Universal Health Coverage through safe and effective traditional therapies.
During the meeting, Duale highlighted the long-standing partnership between Kenya and India, noting that it has already improved healthcare delivery through specialised treatment, pharmaceutical cooperation, and joint training programmes. He said Kenya plans to expand structured training, fellowship programmes, and skills transfer in key areas such as oncology, nephrology, biomedical engineering, mental health, and vaccine technology.
The Health CS also said Kenya has strong potential to become a regional hub for quality medical services. He noted that partnerships with reputable Indian hospitals could reduce outbound medical travel and support the growth of medical tourism. Duale encouraged credible Indian institutions to explore co-investment opportunities in centres of excellence, clinical research, and technology transfer within Kenya’s regulatory framework.
On regulation, Duale reaffirmed the government’s firm stance on patient safety.
“No unregistered or rogue practitioners will be allowed to operate outside the law. Anyone facilitating illegal medical activities will face full regulatory and legal action,” he said.
He added that patient safety, public protection, and the integrity of the health sector remain non-negotiable to ensure a trustworthy and accountable healthcare environment.
Kenya will continue to leverage partnerships under Sustainable Development Goal 17 to deepen cooperation with India and strengthen both countries’ health systems.
The meeting was also attended by India’s Second Secretaries, Amardeep Barnwal and MRishabh Rewar, as well as Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni.