Doctors’ union has issued a notice demanding payment of withheld salaries before Friday next week.
The union warned on Wednesday it would take action by April 3, should the ministry make good its threat to withhold salaries.
A fresh dispute is looming between health workers and the government after the doctors’ union issued a notice demanding payment of withheld salaries before Friday next week.
This row was sparked by a letter to the Council of Governors (COG) dated March 17 from Health Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri ordering withholding of pay for doctors who participated in the 100-day strike that ended on March 14.
Ouma Oluga, the secretary-general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union, said the threats of punishment went against the return-to-work formula the government signed with the doctors.
The deal promised no victimisation of the doctors on resumption of duty.
The union warned on Wednesday it would take action by April 3, should the ministry make good its threat to withhold salaries.
“Kindly withdraw the referenced letter and circular not later than March 24 to pave the way for unconditional payment of salaries withheld before and from December 2016 payable not later than March 31, 2017,” said Dr Oluga.
Dr Muraguri had ordered that only the doctors who did not participate in the strike should be paid emergency call allowances and medical risk allowances with effect from January 1, 2017.
The 100-day strike paralysed the country’s public health system.
The union has been demanding higher wages, better working conditions and recruitment of more doctors in the public health facilities across the country.
Health secretary Cleopa Mailu said that “victimisation has nothing to do with money… no work no pay”.
According to the deal that ended the strike, emergency call allowances are to be paid monthly. Medical interns in Job Group L are to be paid additional Sh36,000, bringing the total payable allowance to Sh66,000.
Doctors in Job Group M, N and P are to receive additional Sh42,000, which makes the total payable Sh72,000, while specialists in Job Group Q and above are to be paid an additional Sh50,000, making the total payable Sh80,000.
All doctors are also to be paid a uniform medical risk allowance of Sh20,000 monthly.
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