Kenyan doctors have issued a fresh strike notice. The medics are planning to go on strike within 16 days if their demands are not met.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) says its members will “decide on the next course of action” if the national government and the counties fail to sign and deposit the two agreements that ended the previous strike in court by June 14 or within 16 days from May 28.
According to the Return to Work Formula that ended the 100-day strike, the doctors union, the Council of Governors and the Ministry were to come up with a CBA and have it registered in court within 60 days. The deadline lapsed on May 14. However, yesterday KMPDU officials said the talks had been ‘painfully slow.’
“We cannot be discussing the same document that we gave them three months ago and one which they have been aware of for the last seven years,” said KMPDU Chair Dr Samuel Oroko.
The union officials expressed their disappointment, saying negotiators in the government’s team have been skipping meetings. The doctors further accused the Ministry of frustrating intern doctors. KMPDU Secretary General Dr Ouma Oluga said there are close to 1,400 doctors who have not been employed and have been frustrated by the counties and the Ministry’s Department of Human Resource.
Dr Oluga also termed wrong the move by the Ministry of Health to sign an agreement with Cuba that will facilitate the exchange of health specialists between the two countries as well as collaboration in the pharmaceutical sectors. This follows a health cooperation deal that will see Kenya tap into the experiences of the renowned state-run healthcare system of the Caribbean island, known for low infant mortality rates and world highest life expectancy of 78 years.
