The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) on Monday, February 12, disregarded the Ministry of Health’s directives as the row regarding the hiring of medical interns widened.
In a press statement, the union demanded that a new cohort of medical interns be hired before the end of February, as agreed in a meeting held between the two subjects on January 22, 2024.
The Union referred to a communique received from the State Department of Medical Services which broke the terms of the initial agreement that established the new cohort to be hired right after the 2023 cohort completed their internship.
“The Union demands that an immediate withdrawal of the communique should ensue and a confirmation of our earlier agreement be done to allay unnecessary anxiety amongst our members,” the union stated.
KMPDU also demanded that Medical Interns be posted by the end of February 2024 as agreed upon and in compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the Agreement signed between KMPDU, the Council of Governors and the Ministry of Health.
Expressing their disappointment, the union faulted the Ministry for varying the initial terms of the agreement, terming it as an insult to the meeting held by the teams at the Afya Annex.
“The Union has not held any meetings with the Ministry today and as such, this communique of 12th February 2024 is alien to us and in bad faith,” the Union added.
Graduate doctors staged demonstrations outside the Ministry of Health offices on Monday, demanding seating with CS Nakhumicha.
University of Nairobi Governor, Faculty of Health Sciences Ramesh Saxena speaking to Kenyans noted that the delay would in turn affect the internship dates.
“We hope that in participating in this peaceful protest, we shall secure the timely posting of these interns, and restore the faith in medical students for a brighter future,” Saxena stated.
The National Guidelines for Internship Training of Medical and Dental Officer Interns (2019) requires that medical practitioners be hired on internship upon successfully completing their examinations.
“Interns shall be posted within a month upon successful completion of their training and passing of the final examination, graduation notwithstanding; or passing of Council’s Internship Qualifying Exams,” the guidelines read.
