More than 700 registrars at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) have gone on strike.
The surgeons, taking a Masters degree, boycotted work demanding the reinstatement of their colleagues who were suspended over the surgery mishap that came to light the previous week.
Kenya Medical Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Ouma Oluga, released a statement blaming the incident on systemic failures in Kenya's largest referral hospital.
"In a Health Stakeholders meeting, the clinical officers, through their union, has categorically condemned and rejected the 'Multi-Tasking, task shifting, task sharing' policy from Ministry of Health and we at KMPDU totally agree and support this move.
[caption caption="KMPDU Secretary General Ouma Oluga"]
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"We have deliberated about the suspension of the neurosurgeons; We call on the KNH board to reinstate them unconditionally. Over 700 registrars working at KNH will no longer offer services until issues have been sorted out," he proclaimed.
In the medical field, a registrar is a medic who is undergoing further training in a specialised field of medicine in order to become a consultant.
Following the mix-up that painted the KNH management in bad light, Health CS Sicily Kariuki suspended CEO Lily Koros and directed the Board of Directors to appoint a new CEO in an Acting Capacity.
The Acting CEO Dr. Thomas Mutie was appointed during a Saturday board meeting, with Dr. Peter Masinde as acting director of clinical services taking over from Dr Ben Githae who was also sent on compulsory leave.
Prior to her suspension, Koros had announced the suspension of the neurosurgeon, ward nurse, theatre receiving nurse and the anesthetist who were on duty that night.
“The management has suspended the admission rights of a neurosurgery registrar and issued him with a show-cause letter for apparently operating on the wrong patient,” stated Koros.
[caption caption="Kenyatta National Hospital"]
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