The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Doctors participating in the ongoing strike have declared their intention to expand their movement by rallying colleagues from private hospitals to join their cause starting next Tuesday.
The decision comes amidst a deadlock in negotiations with government officials, who they claim have yet to address their demands adequately.
Key among the demands put forth by the striking doctors are the deployment of 1,210 interns with a monthly stipend of Sh212,000, improved salaries for practicing doctors, enhanced medical insurance coverage for themselves and their families, and full compensation for doctors pursuing advanced degrees or fellowships.
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Disregarding directives from Head of Public Service Felix Koskei to halt their strike until further negotiations take place, the doctors remain resolute in their stance.
The strike, initially declared illegal by the Labour and Employment Court on March 13, prompted what is now termed the “Whole of the Nation negotiations,” chaired by Koskei.
Simon Kigondu, president of the Kenya Medical Association, expressed frustration with the government’s perceived indifference to their plight, stating, “As long as they are not affected, this strike will not be resolved.”
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Kigondu’s sentiments were echoed by Dennis Miskellah, deputy secretary general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Dentists and Pharmacists Union (KMPDU), who emphasized the union’s commitment to their cause despite orders to cease the strike.
Efforts to bridge the impasse, as outlined in a letter from Koskei to KMPDU secretary general Davji Atellah, propose the convening of the Whole of the Nation committee within 24 hours of the strike’s suspension, aligning with the court’s directive.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health’s recent announcement of the email dispatch of posting letters to the 1,210 interns, slated to report to their respective centers on Monday, has been met with criticism from Miskellah, who argues that the interns cannot effectively train amid the ongoing strike. He also contested the government’s decision to reduce the interns’ stipend from Sh212,000 to Sh70,000 per month.
Despite Koskei’s assertion of securing funds for the deployment of medical and dental interns, the standoff persists, with doctors standing firm in their demand for comprehensive reforms within the healthcare sector.
