As Kenya faces an imminent healthcare crisis, doctors have remained resolute in their defiance against government appeals to halt industrial action, marking the ninth day of the nationwide strike amidst mounting tensions and unresolved disputes.
The protests escalated outside Afya House, on Friday, March 22, with medics clamouring for the resignation of Health CS Susan Nakhumincha, marking deep-rooted discontent within the healthcare sector.
Amidst the chants of "Nakhumicha must go!" and the striking image of doctors clad in their signature white coats and blue surgical caps, the standoff between medical professionals and the government has intensified.
The strike, now in its second week, reflects broader demands from doctors, including improved working conditions, implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements, and adequate provision of medical cover.
On Thursday night, the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) met with the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, Treasury CS Njuguna Ndungu, Health CS Susan Nakhumicha, Labour CS Florence Bore, Council of Governors, KMPDU, Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), Public Service Commission, Kenya Federation of Employers, and Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) among other stakeholders.
The talks yielded no results, according to KMPDU Secretary General, Davji Attelah.
“We have met with government agencies including the Ministry of Health. They have seen our issues but have offered no response. We will be on strike for as long as it takes,” Attelah stated.
The doctors have continued to defy the Health CS despite her threats to sack doctors participating in the ongoing nationwide strike.
While appearing on KTN News, Nakhumicha said that medical services are essential, therefore the health service stations cannot be left unattended.
As a result, she disclosed that there are plans by the Ministry of Health to recruit qualified unemployed medics.
“Services will be offered, that I can assure you. We have made all plans possible to make sure services will be offered. There are close to 3,000 doctors who are unemployed and we will not allow a crisis to come,” she stated.
“This evening, I have instructed KUTRRH and KNH to recruit and once we recruit that is it! For instance, KU has over 400 doctors waiting to be employed in their database. We have to put a measure in place. The places have to be manned. We have an ICU, the patient needs to be taken care of. I cannot sit and stay put,” she added.
Questions about medical interns
On Thursday, the Head of Public Service, attempted to clarify the government's stance on medical interns, addressing the fallout between medical associations and CS Nakhumincha. The controversy surrounding interns has cast a shadow over the government's handling of healthcare, fueling discontent among doctors.
In a televised interview on Wednesday, CS Nakhumincha disputed the classification of medical interns as government employees, igniting widespread criticism from medical professionals.
“ What is remuneration? You have to have offered services and get paid for those services. Remuneration is given to an employee by an employer… These are interns. They are supposed to be under the supervision of specialists or experienced medical officers. So we cannot even speak about remuneration," she stated.
Contrary to her assertions, the Medical Council's Act recognises interns as government employees, working under supervision but undertaking duties akin to qualified doctors.
In response, Koskei said that medical interns are different from other interns since they manage the hospitals and dispensaries they are sent to.
“So we were saying, look here, this term intern is known by Kenyans as interns, and those people are earning between 15,000 and 20,000. Now, these other interns seem to be employees…after they explained intensely, and having been informed and convinced the entire team that the intern doctors are doctors that for many years, for decades, have been employed, as like management trainees, only that they all be called interns, which many people always confuse with these others," Koskei noted.
Doctors accuse CS Nakhumicha and the SRC of undermining the crucial contributions of interns, exacerbating tensions within the healthcare sector.
The proposal by the SRC to slash medical interns' salaries by 91 per cent has further exacerbated tensions, drawing condemnation from the union.
The move, deemed exploitative, contradicts existing Collective Bargaining Agreements and threatens to undermine the welfare of interns.
As doctors intensify their protest, patients have been left in limbo in many public hospitals.
