Government to start posting medical interns after meeting KMPDU

Various stakeholders are racing against time in an effort to avert a looming strike by doctors in the country.

The doctors through their union had issued a one-month’s strike notice over a number of grievances failure to which they will call on their members to down their tools.

Already, multi-sectoral meetings have been scheduled for next week by the ministry of labour with another meeting expected to take place with the Council of Governors on Wednesday to unlock the impasse.

On Friday, Health CS Susan Wafula met the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union officials led by the SG Dr Davji Atellah to discuss key issues as per the strike notice with the view of getting a solution.

“In the meeting, the CS Health agreed to make the necessary follow-up on the ongoing multi-sectoral engagement convened by the Ministry of  Labour for January 3, 2023, after which an update will come in the meeting scheduled for 4th January 2023 at the Council of Governors,” Atellah said.

“The CS's decision to call for a meeting with the union is a great step towards the resolution of the issues raised by our members and I urge the government to implement the 2017-2021 collective bargaining agreement,” he added.

CS Wafula on her part expressed the government’s commitment to amicably resolve issues raised by the union and acknowledged the critical role of the workforce in healthcare delivery.

Speaking during the meeting which sought to review progress made towards resolution of contentious issues, the health CS promised a speedy resolution of the matters raised.

“I urge KMPDU and other unions to embrace dialogue to resolve their concerns rather than resort to industrial action that would jeopardise service delivery,” the CS said.

The CS also issued a directive requiring all medical interns to be posted in batches beginning mid-January 2023.

Doctors have threatened to withdraw their services if the demands of their 2017-2021 CBA remain unmet.

Some of their grievances include salary adjustments, creation of call rooms, posting of medical interns, employment of jobless graduates, provision of working tools and constant consultations that would create industrial harmony.