Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentist Union’s South Rift branch secretary-general Oroko Samuel addresses journalists in Nakuru on September 12, 2012. The union said the public doctors’ strike over sacked trainees begins September 13. Photo/SULEIMAN MBATIAH
What you need to know:
Medical Services assistant minister Kazungu Kambi told Parliament Wednesday that the government would not pay self-sponsored students who also benefit from free training in public hospitals.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union called the strike in solidarity with the striking self-sponsored trainees also known as registrars who are demanding a stipend of Sh92,000 a month for the services they offer to Kenya National Hospital (KNH).
Mr Kazungu said that the ministry had recalled all doctors and other registrars who were on leave ahead of the strike.
More than 3,000 public hospital doctors are expected to go on strike Thursday after union officials accused the Medical Services ministry of not taking negotiations to avert the strike seriously, which they said would yield much.
The government has declared the doctors’ strike which starts Thursday illegal and that it will not give in to their demands.
Medical Services assistant minister Kazungu Kambi told Parliament Wednesday that the government would not pay self-sponsored students who also benefit from free training in public hospitals.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union called the strike in solidarity with the striking self-sponsored trainees also known as registrars who are demanding a stipend of Sh92,000 a month for the services they offer to Kenya National Hospital (KNH).
“The doctors strike is not in good faith, the interns if anything are supposed to pay the government for offering them training,” said the minister in response to questions from MPs.
Mr Kazungu said that the ministry had recalled all doctors and other registrars who were on leave ahead of the strike.
More than 3,000 public hospital doctors are expected to go on strike Thursday after union officials accused the Medical Services ministry of not taking negotiations to avert the strike seriously, which they said would yield much.
The said the ministry was sending junior officers for the talks, including one Wednesday afternoon.
“We want to end this culture of slavery where people work and are not paid. The people we are negotiating with cannot make decision for the ministry and we don’t expect any results,” said union chairman Victor Ngani.
The ministry last week sent 393 registrars home for participating in a protest. The union has challenged the sacking in court and a ruling is expected today.
The doctors are also demanding that the government equips hospitals with modern facilities and infrastructure to improve their working conditions and recuperation of patients.
Mr Kazungu told Parliament that the government is procuring for medical equipment adding that it had employed 57 doctors and expects to hire more.
Mr Ngani said of the 3,200 doctors in public hospitals, more than 3,000 would participate in the strike.
Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Coast Provincial Hospital, Thika Level 5, Machakos Level 5 and Nyanza Provincial Hospital are among public facilities where services are expected to be disrupted.
However, KNH chief executive officer Richard Lesiyampe said he was holding talks with the doctors and government officials to resolve the stalemate.
The referral hospital serves 18,000 patients daily and employs 200 doctors with a wage bill of more than Sh3.8 billion against revenues of Sh1.8 billion.
The union said doctors working in areas around the Tana delta, which has been affected by clashes would be asked to continue with their duty while another 10 per cent of the health workers would be allowed to attend to urgent needs.
“The government has not moved to challenge the strike in court and we are, therefore, ready for the strike which is beginning midnight,” union treasurer Wambui Waithaka.
Medical Services minister Anyang’ Nyong’o said early this month that the government was under no obligation to pay self-sponsored post-graduate students, who are not its employees.
