KMTC Faces Funding Crisis: 34% of Students Fail to Report, Unpaid Fees of Sh1.54 Billion Put Healthcare at Risk
More than a third of the students accepted to the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) are unable to enroll because of a lack of resources, which is a significant problem for Kenya’s healthcare training system.
During a recent press conference, Kelly Oluoch, CEO of KMTC, disclosed the alarming numbers, noting that 34% of accepted students never show up, and 27% of them withdraw for the same reason.
Oluoch painted a bleak picture of financial difficulties among students by stating that the institution is now saddled with Sh1.54 billion in unpaid tuition costs.
“Too many young, enthusiastic students are abandoning their ambitions to work in healthcare because they just can’t afford to remain in school,” he stated.
The majority of Kenya’s nurses, clinical officers, and community health workers are trained at KMTC, the nation’s leading healthcare training school.
However, these financial difficulties now pose a risk to initiatives aimed at improving the healthcare system, particularly in rural and underserved communities where the need is most acute.
The high dropout and non-reporting rates are not just academic issues; they represent a national threat to the future workforce and the provision of healthcare.
Now, Oluoch is urging the private sector, funders, and the government to act quickly to address the problems.
These include improved scholarship schemes, adaptable tuition payment options, and long-lasting financing options for underprivileged students.
He cautioned, “If we fail to support these students today, we are jeopardizing our ability to provide high-quality healthcare in the future.”
The KMTC funding problem highlights a more underlying problem as Kenya struggles with a lack of healthcare workers and an increasing need for medical treatment: access to education is not only about opportunity but also about ensuring the future of public health.
