Health CS Susan Wafula has committed to ensuring healthcare workers contracted to work under the UHC programme are absorbed.
The national government contracted more than 8,550 staff under the UHC program. They were recruited and deployed across various counties on three-year contracts.
The CS has noted that human resource for health remains a key asset in service delivery as it drives other health systems' building blocks.
“It was resolved that they be absorbed into a permanent workforce when their contracts expire as the experience and training they have already acquired will continue to support the County’s health systems,” she said.
“Counties have made different progress in their absorption. Absorption of the remaining staff remains a priority and will be a big boost to ongoing efforts to strengthen health systems for service continuity,” she added.
This comes even as the doctors threatened to withdraw their services if the demands of their 2017-2021 CBA remain unmet.
In a statement last week, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union decried stalled implementation of the agreement by the ministry of health, the county governments and parastatals in the health sector.
Some of their grievances include salary adjustments, the creation of call rooms, posting of medical interns, employment of jobless graduates, provision of working tools and constant consultations that would create industrial harmony.
“We are going to embark on an intense month period of engagements with all stakeholders as a reminder that the CBA is alive while negotiating a new cycle of CBA 2021-2025,” KMPDU SG Dr Davji Atellah said.
