The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Doctors are set to stage another public demonstration on Tuesday next week, continuing their efforts to push for the resolution of their grievances amid an ongoing strike that commenced on March 14.
The primary point of contention revolves around the deployment and equitable compensation of medical interns, a matter that the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary-General Davji Atellah reiterated on Sunday.
Atellah emphasized that the strike will persist until all their demands are addressed, asserting that the striking doctors remain resolute in their stance despite any attempts at intimidation.
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“On our 25th day of the national strike, solidarity remains our strength. Our determination for improved working conditions reverberates throughout KNH, MTRH, and beyond,” Atellah remarked, urging vigilance against misinformation and intimidation tactics while awaiting substantive dialogue with the government.
The upcoming public march on Tuesday aims to uphold doctors’ rights to fair labor practices and quality healthcare, as stated by the KMPDU Secretary-General.
Specialist doctors in public hospitals joined the strike last Thursday, aligning with their junior colleagues who have been on strike for three weeks.
Earlier in the week, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei announced the release of Sh2.4 billion to expedite the deployment and placement of medical student interns for the 2023/24 cohort. However, KMPDU Chairperson Abi Mwachi reiterated their reluctance to accept the government’s offer, citing unfulfilled promises from past negotiations in 2017.
The KMPDU has advised medical interns against accepting deployment letters, denouncing what they perceive as an unlawful reduction in their compensation.
Despite a court order halting the strike on March 13 and mandating mediation, doctors have consistently disregarded these directives.
Acting Health Director-General Patrick Amoth acknowledged the historical challenges surrounding the internship issue, attributing them to the exponential increase in medical training institutions and graduates over the past decade. Despite the surge in graduates, the resources allocated to the ministry have remained unchanged, exacerbating the ongoing crisis.
“The issue of internship, they (unions) say it has been a perennial problem mismanaged by the government and this also has a historical perspective,” Amoth commented.
