Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha alongside other State House officials have signed a return-to-work formular after a court ruling ordering the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) to end their strike.
In a statement, the CS indicated that she held a meeting with State House officials on Friday, May 3, led by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, in the company of Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore and Solicitor General Shadrack Mose.
According to the CS, government officials were complying with a court order that was issued compelling the KMPDU and the government to resolve the current stalemate.
“I once again reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to continue to find a permanent and sustainable solution to the Human Resources for Health [HRH] challenges that have perennially affected service delivery to Kenyans thus scuttling implementation of Universal Health Coverage,” said Nakhumicha.
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Felix Koskei Explains Doctors Stand on the Matter
However, on the other hand, Koskei indicated that KMPDU officials refused to sign the order and instead issued additional demands that they wanted the government to address.
According to Koskei, the move went against the issued court order, adding that the union insisted on ending the 52-day long doctors’ strike when their fresh demands were met.
“I convened a whole-of-the-nation approach meeting in compliance with court orders pronounced yesterday directing parties to sign the return-to-work formula that was earlier initiated by all parties.
“The union declined to sign and introduced new issues contrary to a court order. They, therefore, stated that they will only sign on Monday when their fresh demands are incorporated,” he said.
Addressing the matter, Nakhumicha told off KMPDU, indicating that the strike had been declared illegal by the Industrial and Labour Relations court.
“I urge the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) to do the honorable thing and call off the strike which has on several occasions been declared illegal by the Industrial and Labour Relations court,” she said.
On the other hand, she appreciated the medical officers who continued to serve patients even while the strike continues across the country.
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“I take this opportunity to laud all our healthcare personnel including doctors, nurses, and other cadres who continued to serve patients even as KMPDU persisted with their industrial action. Their devotion in difficult moments is a true commitment to service,” the CS added.
Also Read: New Twist as Doctors Counter Nakhumicha and Waiguru Over strike
KMPDU Speaks on the State House Meeting
The talks between the government side and the doctors’ union have been shrouded in confusion with both sides giving contradicting updates.
On Friday, several reports surfaced on social media claiming that the doctors had agreed to call off the strike that has lasted for over 50 days now and paralyzed operations in most public hospitals.
State House Director of Public Communication Gerald Bitok had earlier announced that the strike had ended after the two parties resolved the issues that had been presented.
In addition, several influencers on social media platform X shared posts insinuating that KMPDU had complied with a court order requiring them to sign a return-to-work formula.
“Relief for Kenyans as National and County Governments sign a return-to-work formula with KMPDU today at 2:30PM. Follows resolution of the outstanding issues between the government and the Medical Practitioners,” said Bitok.
Speaking to The Kenya Times on Friday, May 3,- however, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah dismissed claims that the union had ended the industrial strike explaining that the union had not yet ironed out pending issues with the government.
The wait for restoration of normal operations in government health facilities now continues with both parties remaining adamant on their positions.
On one side, the government has insisted that the demand to pay medical interns a salary of Ksh206,000 is unsustainable and impediment to government’s efforts to ensure equitable sharing of national resources.
Doctors have however maintained that the demand is justifiable while citing the nature of their work and sacrifices they make on their way to attaining the qualifications for being a medic.
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