What is it about?
The study focuses on understanding the perceptions of health care practitioners in Kenya regarding dual practice, which involves health professionals holding both public and private sector jobs simultaneously. The research explores the prevalence of dual practice and the factors influencing health care practitioners' decisions to engage in such practices. The methodology includes a descriptive study using semi-structured interviews with practitioners registered with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council. Key findings reveal that dual practice is common among Kenyan health care providers, often conducted discreetly due to concerns about potential consequences from public health employers. Internal factors, including organizational resources, income, public healthcare effectiveness, and working environment, are identified as significant influencers. The study concludes that the prevailing dual practice is driven by an unfavorable working environment and inefficiencies in public health care facilities. Additionally, it notes a lack of a legally binding contractual framework, contributing to practitioners' skepticism about existing policies. The unique contribution to theory, practice, and policy suggests the need for a legally binding contractual agreement to regulate dual practice among health care practitioners. The study recommends policy changes, emphasizing the development of standardized and legally binding frameworks to optimize dual practice within the health sector. Improved working conditions in public health care facilities are also highlighted as a priority to address practitioners' concerns.
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Why is it important?
The study on the perception of health care practitioners on dual practice in Kenya is important for several reasons: Policy Implications: The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers in the healthcare sector. Understanding the factors influencing dual practice can inform the development of policies that regulate and optimize this practice. The recommendation for a legally binding contractual agreement suggests a need for policy revisions to ensure clarity and standardization. Healthcare Workforce Dynamics: Dual practice can have implications for the overall healthcare workforce. The study sheds light on the prevalence of dual practice among health care providers in Kenya and the motivations behind it. This information is crucial for workforce planning and management. Public Health System Enhancement: By identifying factors such as an unwelcoming working environment and ineffective public healthcare facilities as reasons for dual practice, the study underscores the importance of addressing these issues. Improving working conditions and the effectiveness of public health facilities could contribute to retaining practitioners in the public sector. Legal Framework Concerns: The study highlights concerns about the legal framework governing dual practice. A weak or non-standardized legal framework can undermine the effectiveness of policies. Strengthening the legal foundation for dual practice can enhance the confidence of healthcare practitioners in existing regulations. Research Gap Filling: Research on dual practice, especially in the context of specific countries like Kenya, contributes to filling gaps in the existing literature. Understanding the unique challenges and motivations of healthcare practitioners in different regions can provide a more comprehensive picture of dual practice dynamics. Workforce Satisfaction and Retention: The study's focus on internal factors influencing dual practice, such as organizational resources and working environment, underscores the importance of addressing these aspects to enhance workforce satisfaction and retention. This is critical for ensuring a stable and motivated healthcare workforce. In summary, the study is important for guiding policy decisions, improving the healthcare work environment, addressing legal framework concerns, and contributing to the overall understanding of dual practice dynamics in the Kenyan healthcare context.
Perspectives
The study on the perception of health care practitioners on dual practice in Kenya offers several perspectives that contribute to a nuanced understanding of the issue: Healthcare Practitioners' Perspective: Fear of Job Loss: The study reveals that many healthcare practitioners engage in dual practice secretly due to a fear of losing their public health jobs. This perspective highlights the challenges practitioners face in balancing public and private employment. Organizational Priorities: Internal factors such as organizational resources, working environment, and the effectiveness of public healthcare facilities play a significant role in practitioners' decisions. This perspective emphasizes the importance of considering organizational dynamics when analyzing dual practice. Policy Perspective: Legal Framework Weakness: The study identifies a lack of a legally binding contractual framework for physicians engaged in dual practice. From a policy perspective, this underscores the need for stronger regulations to guide and standardize dual practice, providing clarity for practitioners and healthcare institutions alike. Public Health System Perspective: Impact on Public Healthcare Facilities: The study suggests that an unwelcoming working environment and ineffective public healthcare facilities contribute to dual practice. This perspective highlights the potential repercussions on the public health system, indicating a need for improvements to retain healthcare professionals in public service. Workforce Management Perspective: Retention Strategies: Understanding the factors influencing dual practice contributes to strategies for retaining healthcare professionals. Improving working conditions and addressing practitioners' concerns about public healthcare effectiveness could be key components of workforce retention efforts. Economic Perspective: Income as a Factor: While income is considered a factor influencing dual practice, the study suggests that organizational factors have a stronger influence. This perspective challenges assumptions that financial considerations are the primary drivers of dual practice, emphasizing the complexity of practitioners' decisions. Research and Academic Perspective: Contribution to Knowledge: The study fills a gap in the existing literature by providing insights into dual practice in the specific context of Kenya. This academic perspective highlights the importance of region-specific research to inform policies and practices tailored to the needs of the local healthcare system. Ethical Perspective: Transparency and Accountability: The study suggests that many practitioners engage in dual practice secretly. This raises ethical considerations regarding transparency and accountability in healthcare. Developing policies that encourage openness and ethical practices could be crucial for maintaining trust in the healthcare system. In summary, the study offers diverse perspectives that encompass the experiences of healthcare practitioners, the implications for public health, the role of policies, economic considerations, and ethical dimensions. These perspectives collectively contribute to a comprehensive understanding of dual practice in the Kenyan healthcare context.
Kirathimo Muruga
The RISEBA University of Applied Sciences
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Perception of Health Care Practitioners on Dual Practice in Kenya, Journal of e-Health Management, December 2022, IBIMA Publishing,
DOI: 10.5171/2022.242208.
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