President Uhuru Kenyatta, through the State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu, has clarified that the 500 Tanzanian doctors who are set to be employed in the country will not be paid more than their Kenyan counterparts.
In a statement issued on Sunday, State House noted that the medics from the neighbouring country will be paid according to their experience and skills, with the package offer Government has made to Kenyan intern doctors and Medical Officers, and on a contract basis.
Mr Esipisu also noted that the medics will be posted in public hospitals and will not be involved in private practice.
“The doctors will also be on a contract basis. The fact that they do not have access to mortgages and car loan packages or pension like their Kenyan counterparts means that they will come in at a cost effective and sustainable basis,” Esipisu stated during his weekly State House address.
Esipisu further clarified that the curriculum in East African medical schools was rationalised and a doctor qualifying in any East African country could work in another without further examination or exam.
“It must also be noted that Kenyans work across our region – in Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan, Somalia and even Ethiopia – and that nationals of these countries can work here without any hurdles” the State House Spokesperson explained.
He also dismissed reports that 1,400 doctors who had graduated from public universities were still hanging without jobs, noting that medics were absorbed into service first as interns and after a year confirmed as medical officers after completing their studies.
“Some do leave to expend all their energies in private practice while others stick in Government while still committing large chunks of their time to private practice,” Mr. Esipisu stated.
Tanzania on Saturday agreed to send 500 doctors to Kenya to help mitigate the effects of just ended strike.
"Tunapeleka madaktari 500. Wako madaktari ambao hawafanyi kazi sasa hivi na tutawapeleka huko (We are taking 500 doctors to Kenya. We have doctors who are still not working and we will take them there)," President John Magufuli announced in a press briefing in Tanzania while in the company of Kenya's Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu.
Mr Magufuli reiterated that East African countries need to rise to the occasion and support each other in times of need.
