The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atellah has sought help from Parliament members to resolve the stalemate between the union and the Ministry of Health.
While appearing before the Public Petition Committee on Tuesday, March 19, Atellah asked the members to investigate the failure of the Ministry to post interns to various doctors since September 2023.
"We urge this committee to push the Ministry to come up with mechanisms that will allow hospitals and County governments to employ health workers. Similar mechanisms have been developed in other sectors such as security and teaching where it has worked," he added.
Atellah further asked the committee to probe the Susan Nakhumicha-led Ministry to explain the failure to absorb staff under the Univeral Health Coverage (UHC) contrary to the Kericho agreement that they signed in 2018.
He also presented a petition from the union and seven others raising several matters including absorption of the UHC contract staff, posting of medical interns, the conclusion of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA's) and recognition agreements within the health sector.
Atellah urged the MPs to intervene so that the Ministry could agree to their demands and prevent the health sector from experiencing a crisis.
Besides the above grievances, the Secretary-General also raised the concern of medical interns receiving 50 per cent of what other doctors were getting. Earlier in the week, Atellah had revealed that the ministry was planning to slash the stipend offered to the interns.
"The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) should also review the remuneration of practitioners as it is not standardized," he remarked.
Meanwhile, the committee vice chairperson and Turbo MP Janet Sitienei emphasised the vital role doctors play in the country adding that the committee will initiate talks for a solution.
He further directed Atellah, and members of other unions to note down all the demands and prayers of the doctors.
Notably, Atellah's move comes barely three days after Health CS Nakhumicha announced that medical interns will begin to be posted on April 1.
Nakhumicha on Monday, had also announced that the Ministry was looking into introducing a new policy to post interns across the country. She explained that this new policy was under review.
However, Atellah dismissed the 'good news' from the CS and questioned why there was a need to change the existing policy. He also complained that the Ministry had not provided them with a draft of the new policy.
The Secretary General opined that this was a plan to reduce the salary of doctors adding it was unacceptable owing to the crucial role doctors play to save lives across the country.
He further reiterated that the strike was ongoing until their demands were met.
