Clinicians have called on the government to come clear on the fate of staff that had been contracted under the Universal Health Coverage programme.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers has decried what it has termed as contradictory statements from the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors.
While the health CS Susan Wafula has said the more than 8,550 UHC staff will be absorbed on permanent and pensionable terms, the CoG on the other hand has come out to say they will be hired on a contract basis.
The contracts of the staff who were engaged during the Covid-19 when the country was experiencing a shortage of health workers are supposed to come to an end in May.
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 provision as per the law is that three months prior to the end of such contracts, these employees are supposed to be informed of their fate. This has not happened,” KUCO chairperson Peterson Wachira said.
“I want to thank the CS because she said they were going to be absorbed and then the county governments contradicted the same and said that they want to put them on contracts.”
“We must say that contracts are irregular and illegal. It is the public service act that provides that and government must be able to adhere to the law that they actually do make.”
The CS early last month said 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.
But the Council of Governors days later called on the national government to provide funds to allow counties to renew the contracts.
This, Council's chairperson Ann Waiguru, said this should be based on the current market rate salaries.
"There is a potential disruption of health services if the staff leave hospitals due to lack of resources to sustain them," said Waiguru.
The Kirinyaga Governor also petitioned the national government to transfer the payroll management of the particular to the counties.
