The government will not revoke its decision to contract 100 Cuban medical specialists.
Nzioka Waita, who is State House Chief of Staff and Head of the President's Delivery Unit, gave explanations in a statement on Sunday.
Waita started by noting that the
doctor-patient ratio remains 1:16,000, "which means we are not anywhere near meeting the ratios required for the provision of quality healthcare to a majority of Kenyans"
He noted
the partnership will bring in specialists in the complex areas of medicine, including ontology, nephrology and dermatology.
“Our efforts to boost access to specialised medical service at county level is not a condemnation of our own professionals," he said.
"Rather, it is mere recognition that we need more specialised doctors, especially those prepared to leave the comfort of big cities to serve in rural communities where they are more needed."
Waita cited another goal as building
expertise and capacity at the grassroots level four and five hospitals.
He said the foreign
doctors will help decongest the few hospitals available in rural areas.
The Chief of Staff further noted that the government is
committed to recruiting more local doctors but that their training takes long so it is easier to import.
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Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said Kenya is currently grappling with a shortage of 42,800 health workers, a state of affairs that stands in the way of efforts to ensure universal healthcare.
There are 63,000 health workers including 20,981 nurses, 3,284 clinical officers, 2,286 medical officers, 405 dentists, 1104 pharmacists, 293 radiologists and 22 radiation protection personnel.
According to reports by Cuban newspaper 14ymedio, the doctors have already started training in the capital Havana.
They are attending classes to learn English, the Kenyan public health system and the local culture in preparation for their assignments in the 47 counties.
The first batch of is expected in the country in July.
The Kenya Medical Association had asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to drop the plan and hire locals.
Doctors want the government to only seek foreign specialists as a last resort.