•The Employment and Labour Relations Court stopped the strike on March 13 and ordered mediation
•But doctors have repeatedly rubbished the court orders
Image: FILE
Doctors will on Tuesday organize another march to advocate for the fulfillment of their demands.
They have been on strike since March 14, pressing the government to address the significant grievances they have outlined.
The key issue of contention is the posting and fair remuneration of medical interns.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union SG Davji Atellah on Sunday maintained that their strike will go on until all their demands are met.
He said no amount of intimidation will make the striking doctors to go back to work.
"In our 25th day of the national strike, solidarity remains our strength. Our resolve for dignified work conditions echoes through KNH, MTRH, and beyond," Atellah said.
"As we await meaningful dialogue with the government, let us stay vigilant against misinformation and intimidation tactics," he said.
The SG said the public march to be held on Tuesday is meant to uphold the rights of doctors to fair labor and quality healthcare.
On Thursday, specialist doctors in public hospitals joined the three-week-old strike by their junior colleagues.
Earlier in the week, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said the government released Sh2.4 billion to facilitate the immediate deployment and posting of the 2023/24 cohort of medical student interns.
KMPDU chairperson Abi Mwachi said they were not ready to take the government offer, adding that the doctors in 2017 ended their strike based on promises that have never been met.
KMPDU however advised medical interns not to pick the letter saying the move is meant to cement what it termed as illegal reduction in their pay.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court stopped the strike on March 13 and ordered mediation.
But doctors have repeatedly rubbished the court orders.
Acting Health DG Patrick Amoth has said the issue of internship which remains the elephant in the room has a historical perspective.
Amoth said unlike 10 years ago when only the University of Nairobi was the only medical institution churning out 90 to 100 graduates per year, there currently exist 12 medical training institutions today.
He noted that these institutions currently churn out close to 1,000 graduates mostly due to the module II programme.
Despite the high numbers, the resources allocated to the ministry remain the same, Amoth said.
"The issue of internship, they (unions) say it has been a perennial problem mismanaged by the government and this also has a historical perspective," Amoth said.