Medical consultants at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and the University of Nairobi have withdrawn their services from the facility in a bid to pressurise the government to honour their demands even as hundreds of patients continue to suffer due to paralysed health services.
In a press statement sent out on Wednesday, the medics noted that: "we the consultants hereby withdraw all services including emergency services rendered at KNH both at public and private wings, inpatient and outpatient with immediate effect."
The consultants issued eight demands to the Government noting that they had halted operations until the proposal put forward by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) was adhered to.
The medical practitioners further ordered the State to withdraw all court cases filed against the union and its leadership with immediate effect.
They also accused the Government of deploying unqualified Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) doctors at the National Hospital highlighting that they were mismanaging patients.
“We have noted with great concern that the Government deployed unqualified KDF doctors who are mismanaging patients and admitting them to the wards yet there is no follow-up. We demand that they be withdrawn back to the army hospital to minimise casualties,” the statement read in part.
The consultants threatened to exacerbate the industrial action if their plea was not honoured.
This comes after a Tuesday meeting between doctors’ union and the Government failed to bear fruit. KMPDU Secretary General Ouma Oluga divulged that: "Yes we have met the Labour CS Kandie but no deal yet."
This led to some doctors saying they were ready to resign unless their demands, which also include promotions and the hiring of more health personnel to address a shortage, are met.
According to Dr Oluga, no amount of intimidation would make them return to work without their demands being fulfilled.
Read Also: Doctors Threaten to Quit After Failing to Strike Deal With Government
