The Kenyan health sector will be hit with a crisis yet again as practitioners make good their resolve to undertake an industrial action.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) said it would be serving an official strike notice on Monday, December 2.
According to the union, the two levels of government have been complicit in flouting the agreements in the Return to Work Formula signed in May this year to end the over 50-day strike that commenced in late February.
KMPDU secretary general Davji Attellah cited the move to reduce the intern doctors' stipends as one of the grounds for the oncoming strike.
"The unlawful reduction of intern doctors’ wages to Ksh 41,000 is not just a breach of the CBA but a clear disregard for the dignity and welfare of our healthcare workers. As a union, we cannot and will not allow this injustice to continue unchallenged," Davji said.
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According to the union, the two tiers of government had displayed blatant non-commitment to the resolutions that led to the end of the previous strike in May.
"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," said the KMPDU SG.
"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," he added.
This came a day after the Ministry of Health announced the disbursement of Ksh 965 million to pay stipends and arrears of medical interns across the country.
In a statement on Saturday, November 30, Health CS Debora Barasa said the payment ensures that all 3,747 interns receive their dues without delay.
"The Ministry of Health is pleased to announce the successful payment of monthly stipends and accrued arrest to nursing officers interns, clinical officers interns, medical officers interns and pharmacist interns.
"The total amount comprises 528,615,125.60 Kenya Shillings in arrears payments and 110,668,070 Kenya Shillings in regular payments for Nursing and Clinical Officers Interns. A further payment of 326,592,150 Kenya Shillings has been made as arrears payments for Medical Officer Interns, Dental Officers Interns, and Pharmacist Interns," the CS said.
Barasa further noted that this new development demonstrates the Ministry's dedication to addressing the welfare of healthcare workers.
