Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral, and Research Hospital has served 100 striking doctors with dismissal and suspension letters while hiring five foreign doctors to cover its striking doctors.
The move comes as an impasse between the government and the striking doctors enters its fourth week with no signs of relenting.
The facility has enlisted the services of four oncologists from Ethiopia, Malawi, and Tanzania, allowing some critical services to resume.
With the new hires, the facility was able to conduct approximately 40 chemotherapy sessions on Monday.
While confirming the changes, the hospital board chairperson, Prof. Olive Mugenda stated that the strike had left many patients stranded.
"After consultation with the board, we thought it wise and we have permission from the government to hire some foreign doctors to help us," stated Mugenda.
The hospital has decided to serve almost half of its doctors with dismissal and suspension letters. According to Mugenda, of its 250 doctors, 100 have received their letters.
Mugenda asserted that the hospital was operating at 82 per cent with doctors on strike affecting major operations.
"We do not know if the striking doctors will be back, those who stopped working we served them with letters of dismissal and some have suspension letters," she added.
"The ones we hired will remain even if the others come back, and if they do come back, those with suspension letters will need to face a disciplinary committee," she asserted.
Kenya Medical and Practitioners Board (KMPDU) is demanding, among other things the posting of interns and implementation of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
On Tuesday, the government spokesperson, Isaac Mwaura termed the Ksh206,000 salary for interns 'unreasonable'. He further asserted that the 2017 CBA was signed under duress.
The KUTRRH doctors joined the ongoing doctors' strike on March 20.
