The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has hit out at the government for announcing a plan to employ 100 specialists from Cuba when there are at least 1,200 unemployed Kenyan doctors.
The Union demanded that the government first employ the Kenyan doctors, but expressed support for President Uhuru Kenyatta's plan to deliver Universal Health Care (UHC).
"There are currently 2,400 foreign doctors working in the country. If these ones come, the number will go up to 2,500. Where are they going to place Kenyan doctors?" KMPDU Secretary-General Ouma Oluga posed.
Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Rashid Aman on Saturday announced that Kenya had agreed a deal with Cuba to bring in 100 specialists, with two to be sent to each county.
He also stated that as part of the programme, Kenya would send 50 specialists to Cuba for specialized training.
[caption caption="Cuban President Raul Castro and his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta inspect a guard of honour in Havana on March 15, 2018 (Courtesy)"]
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KMPDU Deputy Secretary-General Chibanzi Mwachonda disclosed that the unemployed local doctors had completed their internship in May 2017.
“There is a serious shortage of doctors. The decision by the government to bring doctors from Cuba should take into consideration the more than 1,200 unemployed local doctors.
“This is due to what the national government is calling a devolved function, while county governments insist they have no funds despite staff shortages. We are not opposed to the government’s plan,” he told The Nation.
Mwachonda further revealed that the doctors had gone for specialist training before devolution.
“There are consultants out of employment. They went for specialist training before devolution but the national government and devolved governments have refused to deploy them to counties,” he elucidated.
[caption caption="KMPDU Secretary-General Ouma Oluga with Chairperson Samuel Oroko (Courtesy)"]
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