The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has announced a plan to dissolve the country's medical regulatory body, Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB), and create a new one as they demand that the Government first employ jobless Kenyan doctors before bringing in Cuban specialists.
After Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki shared details of her meeting in Havana with Cuban officials and supposed members of the KMPDU, Secretary-General Ouma Oluga quickly replied describing those who accompanied her as 'sell-outs' and clarifying that the union was not part of the process.
"KMPDU is not on any peer review mission in Havana - Cuba Madam CS @SicilyKariuki. But we see the few betrayers and sell outs with you pretending to have capacity to do peer review. Watajua Hawajui. And you'll prove they didn't advise you well. 28th April 2018 we dissolve board," Oluga tweeted.
He later declared: "On Saturday the 28th April 2018, the Medical Board will forth with regulate Cuban Doctors. Kenyan Doctors will form their own regulatory body led by professional associations and @kmpdu. They chose the battle. But we own the battle field."
The Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board is a statutory authority established under Cap 253 Laws of Kenya to regulate the practice of medicine and dentistry in Kenya. It therefore remains to be seen how the doctors plan to dissolve it and form a new body.
When contacted by Kenyans.co.ke, KMPDU National Chairman Oroko Obegi refused to divulge details of the planned new regulatory body, only telling Kenyans to follow keenly the events planned for Saturday.
With the Cuban specialists expected in the country from June, KMPDU maintained that the state should employ at least 1,200 trained Kenyan doctors who have not been deployed and build capacity.
In a brief statement, the union stated: "Our position: Hire the unemployed Kenyan trained doctors & build capacity within."
President Uhuru Kenyatta struck a deal with the Cuban government to bring in 100 medical specialists to offset the shortage in county hospitals.
[caption caption="KMPDB Chair Prof George Magoha"]
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50 Kenyan doctors are also supposed to go to Cuba for specialist training as part of the plan.
The first batch expected to arrive in June is lined up to boost Malaria prevention efforts in counties around Lake Victoria.
[caption caption="KMPDU Secretary-General Oluma Oluga with COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli (L-R)"]
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