Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has issued a new directive enforcing strict identification rules at all healthcare facilities across the country, in a move aimed at addressing increasing concerns around patient abandonment, impersonation, and criminal activity within hospitals.

Effective immediately, no patient will be admitted into any hospital emergency unit unless they are accompanied by a known individual whose national ID is presented and officially recorded.

Duale made the announcement on Monday, during a press briefing at Kenyatta National Hospital.

“As part of enhanced security protocols, all individuals, including police officers, bringing patients to the hospital particularly to emergency units will be required to present and have their identification documents recorded,” Duale said in a video posted on his official X account on Tuesday, July 29.

The Ministry of Health said the new protocol follows rising cases where patients in critical condition are left at hospital gates by unknown persons, making it difficult to trace guardians or confirm identities.

This has created serious challenges for medical teams who are forced to care for patients with no known background or contacts.

“Going forward, no patient will be admitted if dropped off by unidentified or anonymous persons. This policy is critical in safeguarding both patients and healthcare staff and in preventing cases of abandonment, impersonation, or criminal activity within our health facilities,” Duale emphasized.

All hospitals have been instructed to immediately adjust their emergency room admission protocols and ensure that security personnel and administrative teams are fully aware of and enforcing the new rules.

The move is part of broader reforms being implemented by the Ministry of Health. Just two weeks earlier, on July 14, Duale directed all national teaching and referral hospitals to submit updated bed capacity data to the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council.

The directive is tied to the requirements of the new Social Health Authority and is meant to improve coordination across the national referral system.

According to Duale, the updated data will help eliminate scenarios where patients are forced to sleep on floors due to poor planning or bed shortages.

He said the Ministry is committed to protecting the dignity of patients and ensuring quality, accountable healthcare in all public facilities.

Together, the new security and operational directives highlight an intensified push by the Ministry to improve efficiency, safety, and service delivery in Kenya’s health sector.