Kenyan doctors could receive specialised training in the United States under a proposed partnership between Kenya and Medtronic LABS.
The Kenyan Embassy in Washington, D.C., revealed the plan in a statement on Thursday, August 27, after discussions with the healthcare technology company on ways to expand cooperation in digital health and specialised medical training.
Under the proposed training Kenyan healthcare professionals would be connected with members of the Kenyan medical diaspora working in the U.S.
Additionally, the programme would focus on advanced technologies used in cardiovascular care, medical-surgical practice and neuroscience.
Kenya Embassy in Washington DC, United States
Flickr
“The discussions delved into the prospects of forging a partnership aimed at providing specialized training for Kenyan medical professionals within the U.S. diaspora, focusing on Medtronic’s cutting-edge healthcare technologies in cardiovascular care, medical-surgical fields, and neuroscience,” the statement read.
The initiative is intended to facilitate the transfer of specialised knowledge and skills to healthcare stakeholders in Kenya.
It could also strengthen local clinical capacity and improve access to advanced medical technologies.
The talks also covered referral coordination and ways of improving healthcare delivery at the last mile.
Medtronic LABS briefed the embassy on its existing programmes in Kenya, including the enrolment of more than 140,000 patients.
Its work has included supporting the management of hypertension and diabetes through digital health tools and community-based healthcare systems.
The company has also supported training and capacity building for health workers involved in patient care.
The embassy said it would continue discussions with relevant stakeholders as the proposed areas of cooperation are developed.
The collaboration comes after Kenya and the United States in June formalised a five-year Ksh207 billion health cooperation agreement covering disease surveillance, laboratory systems, health commodities, frontline workforce support and digital health.
Surgeons conducting an operation on a patient.
KNH
