- According to KMPDU, 1,215 medical interns are awaiting posting with some having waited for either six months or one year.
- In a meeting held between the unions and the Ministry of Health on January 22, it had been agreed that all the interns would be posted by the end of February.
Image: KMPDU/X
Doctors have given the government until Sunday midnight to resolve all pending issues of contention failure to which they will proceed on a nationwide strike.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union said key issues of concern must be addressed including the posting of interns, promotions, medical cover, payment of postgraduate fees, study leaves and pension.
The decision was arrived at after the National Advisory Committee Council held a meeting on Sunday.
Speaking on Monday, deputy secretary general Dennis Miskellah said the strike notice was to be issued in June but the move to push it forward was necessitated by the recent occurrences.
He said these include the injury of SG Davji Atellah during protests held on Thursday last week.
There has also been a push and pull between the unions and the government on the posting of interns whom they (unions) claim are wasting away and languishing at home.
"We met as the National Advisory Committee Council and we have agreed to do our nationwide strike starting Sunday next week," Miskellah said.
"We are going to give a seven-day notice today then we will do our nationwide strike to ensure that every single issue we have fought for from promotions to medical cover, internship, pension, study leaves and school fees and issues around the SG must be addressed."
According to KMPDU, 1,215 medical interns are awaiting posting with some having waited for either six months or one year.
In a meeting held between the unions and the Ministry of Health on January 22, it had been agreed that all the interns would be posted by the end of February.
The ministry has maintained that the Treasury is yet to release funds to that effect.
In a meeting held between the union and interns affected by the delay on February 20, they had given the ministry until March 1 to ensure all interns received their posting letters.
The union said failure by the government will result in a go-slow by all the doctors across the country.
"We have been on a go slow today (Monday) it culminates in a nationwide protest from KMA to the Ministry of Health and the Interior Ministry to protest how 25 interns were hurt last week," Miskellah said.
"We had intended to do this strike in June but they have made us to bring it forward."
He disclosed that Atellah will be away for at least six weeks as he continues to receive treatment.
On Saturday Health CS Susan Nakhumicha said Sh4.9 billion is needed to post the interns.
Speaking to NTV, the CS said she would only be able to post the interns if the Treasury releases the funds required.
"They have not been posted for an internship because they want a salary which I don’t have, to post all these I need Sh4.9 billion, which I don’t have," Nakhumicha said.
"Until Treasury gives me money then I post them, if Treasury does not give me I will change the law so that then they can be affordable otherwise for now they are unaffordable."
The Ministry had committed to post all the 3,759 interns by June.
They include the medical officers, dentist officers, pharmacists, nursing officers and clinical officers.