New Twist as Doctors Counter Nakhumicha and Waiguru Over strike

The Secretary General (SG) of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KPMDU) Davji Atella has insisted that the doctor’s strike will continue despite appeal from the Chairperson of the Council of Governors Ann Waiguru and Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha. 

While responding to Waiguru and Nakhumicha, Atella asked the government to prioritize pay for intern doctors adding that they were the most vulnerable.

“Dear Government, the doctors are saying that since you have publicly said that you conceded to 18 of our 19 demands (except internship), kindly take back the 18 and give us the one. 

“As a community, we are not used to abandoning the most vulnerable, and to us, interns are currently very vulnerable,” said Davji. 

Earlier, the Chairperson of the Council of Governors Ann Waiguru and Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha have announced that county governments will be taking necessary action to ensure that Kenyans get medical services.

Waiguru on Next Action on Strike

According to Waiguru, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KPMDU) failed to act on their end of the bargain, keeping government officials waiting until midnight even after reaching an agreement. 

Further, she explained that it had been decided that the union calls off the strike immediately and return to work within 24 hours, but their representatives failed to show up for the meeting as agreed upon.

“Despite the whole of the government’s team being kept waiting until close to midnight for the signing of the agreement that was to be taken to court. Mine is to bring to your attention the details of what the county governments have agreed. 

“It is most unfortunate that the doctors have deliberately refused and ignored or disregarded the courtesy extended to them. The doctors are therefore insensitive to the plight and suffering of vulnerable Kenyans in dire need of medical services,

“This is unacceptable and has left the county governments and respective employers to deal with the unwarranted strike as they deem fit,” said Waiguru.

Also Read: Nakhumicha Reveals Date Govt will Strike Deal to End Doctors’ Strike

Waiguru States Details of the Agreement with Doctors

At the same time, Waiguru detailed that County governments and the doctors’ union had agreed that the counties would continue releasing doctors for postgraduate studies and recruit the doctors depending on the availability of resources.

Also, she said that “Albeit reluctantly, the county government agreed to engage the national treasury in the next six months over funds used to pay the intern doctors.”

On the other hand, CS Nakhumicha said her ministry was reviewing the doctor’s internship policy to align it with the number of students graduating from institutions.

“The ministry has embarked on the review of the internship policy, and this is to align it with the inflow of interns from the eight teaching universities and the reality of the physical space of the country. 

“Equally, the ministry of health has also embarked on a human resource for health policy to ensure proper management of human resource for health from production, management to separation,” she said.

Also Read: Governor’s Call for Review of Doctors’ & Govt Deal

Money Received by Nakhumicha for Doctors

Additionally, Nakhumicha indicated that the ministry of health had received Ksh2.4 billion for payment of interns, adding that the Ksh70,000 offer for interns was available until June 2024.

After that period, she said that the amount will have to be renegotiated. 

The ministry of health has received Ksh3.5 billion for payment of salary arrears from 2017 to 2024 June. Nakhumicha said the amount will be paid in five installments in each financial year.

“Equally, the ministry has received Ksh2.4 billion for payment of internships and I want to clarify that this amount is available for the ministry up to June 2024.

“So, the offer of Ksh70,000 for those interns who will be posted is still available and shall have to be renegotiated after June 2024,” she said.

Furthermore, the ministry has received Ksh200 million for payment of post graduate arrears for the doctors who had done their specialty training.

“We will be asking our council to appeal to the court to review the orders that had been issued initially so that we are allowed to take necessary action to ensure that Kenyans continue to enjoy healthcare services,” indicated the CS.

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