- The KMPDU is set to serve both the national and county governments with strike notice for dishonoring the CBA and Return to Work Formula.
- The Union’s Special Delegates unanimously ratified the decision to call for a National Doctors’ Strike.
- The government has disbursed KES 965,875,345.60 in arrears and regular payments for interns serving in different cadres.
Healthcare paralysis could hit the country again following a resolution agreed upon by the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union’s (KMPDU) call for a National Doctors’ Strike. The decision was unanimously ratified during the union’s Special Delegates Conference on November 30th, 2024, Davji Bhinji Atellah, the KMPDU Secretary General & CEO, said.
The union has slammed the government for failing to honor the CBA and the return-to-work formula signed on May 8th, 2024. Such deliberate violations have seen intern doctors taking measly wages home, which the union has described as the government’s disregard for the dignity and welfare of healthcare workers.
“Today, the 2024 @kmpdu Special Delegates Conference unanimously ratified the call for a National Doctors’ Strike. This decision comes as we continue to face deliberate violations of the CBA and a lack of goodwill from both levels of government to implement the Return to Work Formula (RTWF) signed on 8th May 2024,” KMDPU boss Dr. Atellah stated on X.
“The unlawful reduction of intern doctors’ wages to Ksh 41,000 is not just a breach of the CBA but a clear disregard for dignity and welfare of our healthcare workers. As a union, we cannot and will not allow this injustice to continue unchallenged,” he added.
Both the national and county governments are set for hard moments as the union is set to serve an official strike notice on Monday, December 2nd, 2024.
“In light of these violations, KMPDU will serve an official strike notice on Monday, 2nd December 2024, to both the National and County Governments. This notice will mark the beginning of a united push to demand fair treatment, respect for agreements, and the urgent resolution of these critical issues, Atellah stated.
Such critical decision comes as the country faces a spate of suicide cases entangling the healthcare fraternity. In the span of one week, three intern doctors, Dr. Peter Riungu, Dr. Vincent Nyambunde, and Dr. Francis Njuki, have died of suicide over delayed wages and toxic working environments. Intern doctors had not received their salaries in the last four months, putting their lives at heightened risk.
On November 30th, 2024, the government responded to such negligence, which caused the demise of several health professionals with a paltry disbursement of KES 965,875,345.60 in arrears and regular payments, describing it ‘a’significant milestone.’
The amount disbursed is meant for a total of 3747 interns serving in different cadres, including medical officer interns, pharmacist interns, dental interns, nursing officer interns, and clinical officer (diploma) interns. The amount constitutes arrears and regular payments.
“The total amount comprises 528,615,125.60 Kenya Shillings in arrears and 110,668,070 Kenya Shillings in regular payments for Nursing and Clinical Officer Interns. A further payment of 326, 592,150 Kenya Shillings has been made as arrears payments for Medical Officer Interns and Pharmacist Interns,” Dr. Deborah Barasa, CS for Health, stated.
“Internship programs are a critical component of Kenya’s healthcare system, providing hands-on experience to bridge the gap between theory and practical practice. By ensuring timely remuneration, the Ministry affirms its commitment to fostering a conducive environment for professional growth, thereby enhancing the quality of care delivered to Kenyans,” she added.
On the issues surrounding the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the ministry has assured doctors that it is finalizing in compliance with the relevant laws and Court directions.
The doctors’ strike could trigger a hallmark of sterility to comprehensive healthcare access in the public health facilities should the government proceed to give it a deaf ear. Medical interns are important in augmenting broader access to equitable healthcare and the realization of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
