Health Ministry orders crackdown on surgical clinics after fatal plastic surgery

The Ministry of Health has directed 13 health agencies to inspect all medical facilities offering surgical procedures to ensure compliance with health standards and patient safety.

The move follows the tragic death of Lucy Wambui, who died after a failed plastic surgery procedure at Body by Design, a clinic in Nairobi operating under Omnicare Medical Limited.

Investigations by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) revealed severe malpractice and non-compliance at the clinic, prompting scrutiny of similar facilities across the country.

In a letter dated November 5, 2024, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said the investigations, grounded in Sections 4 and 15 of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act, Cap 253, aim to prevent future tragedies of this kind.

Muthoni emphasised the need for all regulatory bodies to assess Body by Design and its staff in depth.

The 13 designated agencies, led by the Kenya Health Professional Oversight Authority (KHPOA), have been given a 30-day deadline to submit a comprehensive report.

"By copy of this letter, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Health Professional Oversight Authority (KHPOA), to coordinate this exercise and submit a comprehensive report in 30 days with effect from the date of this letter," Muthoni said.

The agencies involved include the KMPDC, Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute, Public Health Officers and Technicians Council, Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Nursing Council of Kenya, and Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board.

Other health regulatory bodies are the Health Records and Information Management Board, Clinical Officers Council of Kenya, Counsellors and Psychologists Board, Physiotherapy Council of Kenya, National Quality Control Laboratory and Occupational Therapy Council of Kenya.

"Beauty Spa"

Lucy Wambui sought services at Body by Design, initially marketed as a health clinic. However, government records revealed it was only licensed as a beauty spa, which has since been closed by authorities.

Wambui was laid to rest at her family home in Redhill, Kiambu County on Tuesday.

The family, left in shock and grief, mourned Wambui as a caring and generous person.

"I just pray that she is in an amazing place; I just wish the best for her," James Macharia Ng'ang'a, her son, said.

Friends and prominent leaders, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, also condemned the clinic’s negligence.

"As we bury Lucy, we want to call on the authorities who regulate medical facilities to protect the people of Kenya," Gachagua said, urging Kenyans to exercise caution when selecting medical providers.

"People tend to trust establishments that market themselves well. Often, they believe the promises and end up in facilities that are unlicensed and unprofessional."

The family is now calling on others who may have suffered under Body by Design’s care to come forward, seeking accountability and justice for all affected families.

"What we are going through is very unfortunate and I want to call out anybody who has gone through a similar situation or is going through it to please come forward," Brian Ng'ang'a, Wambui’s eldest son urged.

Meanwhile, Body by Design attempted to stop the KMPDC from closing its operations by filing a court petition, though this request was ultimately denied.