Toward a data governance model for the Kenya health professional regulatory authorities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the status, drivers, and barriers to data governance at the health professional regulatory authorities in Kenya. This study aims to develop a model that can be used to establish a formal data governance program at these regulatory authorities. Design/methodology/approach This study used data governance decision areas based on the study of Khatri and Brown (2010). Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used in this study to collect data. Findings This paper identified maintenance of quality of data, achieving customer satisfaction, ensuring data security and control, and achieving operational efficiency as the drivers of data governance at the regulatory authorities. The authorities are faced with lack of data governance awareness, lack of management ownership and support, as well as limited funding and resource allocations as barriers to data governance. This study proposed that for the authorities to increase their data governance, they need to identify their data as an asset, initiate more data quality management mechanism, restrict access to their data, create awareness, and increase management, ownership and support. Practical implications A data governance program for healthcare workforce data is necessary for healthcare planning which influences national policy in the healthcare and the overall delivery of health services in a country. Originality/value The paper proposes a model that health professional regulators in developing countries that are facing limited resources can be used to establish a formal data governance program.