Wellness & Fitness

Vote in medics to push for healthcare agenda

parliament

A National Assembly session. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NMG

The ongoing party primaries have seen politicians criss-cross the country in search of votes. Old party manifestos are being dusted and unmet agenda glossed over and presented again to citizens. As usual health is prominently featuring with most political parties promising a bag of goodies, some unrealistic.

One recurring observation though is that across many electable seats, the representation by health workers is dismal.

In the counties in particular given healthcare is a devolved function, many assemblies are predominantly represented by non-medics.

As a county obligation, healthcare needs stronger voices in the county assemblies from where financing is determined.

The MCA seat has drawn a lot of interest from aspirants, but is unfortunately shunned by most doctors. This despite it having more opportunity to positively impact on the healthcare needs of constituents than the favourite MP and governor seats.

In the last county assembly, no single doctor was elected as an MCA. In this coming election a similar scenario is likey to be replicated.

Our nursing colleagues have also not fared better in terms of representation compared to the teachers.

The current Parliament too had less than seven per cent of Members from the medical fraternity, which is too low to push or “bulldoze” any health legislation through as sometimes may be warranted. This is why it is encouraging to see more medics seeking party nominations in the ongoing primaries. A few have sailed through.

More importantly though is that unlike in the past where professors and established doctors were the ones vying, this time round even young recently graduated doctors have joined the fray. Mainly because we have realised that you cannot improve healthcare if you cannot influence policy.

What we as the electorate and medics ought to do is support these candidates to ensure their success.

Sober minded people in the assemblies and Parliament are vital ingredients for any meaningful healthcare reforms to take root.

In the next phase of voter civic education medical bodies like the Kenya Medical Association, Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union should actively engage voters on why healthcare needs to be prioritised.

For citizens, your vote is your health, chose wisely or endure the failing health system.