Health sector to hire 12,000 workers annually

Health sector stakeholders have resolved to increase the number of workers in the country by at least 12,000 annually.

This is in an effort to bridge the doctor, nurse and midwife ratio as recommended by the World Health Organization.

The move is also aimed at attaining Universal Health Coverage.

According to the WHO, the prescribed health worker density ratio is determined as 23 doctors, nurses and midwives for every 10,000 people.

However, data shows that the health workforce ratio in Kenya stands at 13 doctors, nurses, midwives for every 10,000 people.

The data further shows that the country has a shortage gap of 3,238 medical officers, with the required number being at least 5,317.

There is also a deficit of 2,313 consultants, 1,070 dentists, 4,614 public health officers, 1,020 pharmacists, 4,167 pharm technologists, 3,970 specialist clinical officers and 9,301 general clinical officers.

Other areas with human resources gaps include the cadres of nursing staff that stands at 38,548.

Lab technicians and technologists stand at 13,309, community health workers at 19,294 and at least 72,000 other health cadres.

“As countries develop it is important to keep track of the rate of population growth as this will affect the ability of the country to meet the health workforce density ratio,” Labour CS Simon Chelugui said on Friday.

“Any country that does not meet the minimum threshold needed to adequately cover the population with the essential health services is considered as having a human resource for health crisis.” 

Chelugui was among hundreds of healthcare workers who attended the Kenya Health workers’ Annual Convention 2022 in Nairobi last week.

The convention is the first of its kind in Kenya bringing together all players in health sector, including the Health ministry, the Council of Governors, health unions and other partners such as NHIF and Amref.

According to Kenya Union of Clinical Officers chairperson Peterson Wachira, the conference brought together varioud groups to discuss prevailing human resources for health issues and provide long lasting solutions.

The organisation's secretary general George Gibore said different terms of employment amongst various health workers working in the counties has brought discrepancy and unfairness in the health sector.

Similarly, community health workers are being engaged on contract terms and compensated at lower rates and at different terms as those on permanent and pensionable terms.

“This has limited the access of HCWs on contract the opportunities to further their studies due to the short duration of their employment," Gobore said. 

"Further, they are unable to access long term financial loans due to the lack of job security.” 

Chelugui, however, said there is need to conduct a labour market occupational survey in the health sector.

This will help identify the number graduating from various institutions, the demand in the labour market and the existing mismatches.

This, he said, will help in the review of training curriculum and provide adequate data that will be used in determining actual health workforce density ratio.

“The cleaners, watchmen, the food suppliers, all these from a layman are health workers. This number may complicate the calculations.”

(edited by Amol Awuor)