The ongoing doctors' strike, now stretching into its fifth week, has crippled the healthcare system. Kenyans seeking medical attention are turned away, surgeries are postponed, and the sick languish. This deadlock, a battle of wills between the doctors and the government, is doing nothing but harming the very people it's meant to serve.
According to the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union, there are approximately 4,500 practising doctors in Kenya. This translates to a dismal doctor-to-patient ratio of about 1:10,000, far below the World Health Organization's recommendation of 1:1,000.
This scarcity magnifies the impact of any disruption to medical services. The current standoff risks exacerbating an already precarious situation, with vulnerable communities bearing the brunt of delayed or denied healthcare.
Intern doctors, the backbone of level 4 and often even level 5 hospitals in some counties, are currently paid a monthly gross wage of around Sh206,000. The Salaries and Remuneration Commission, however, has proposed a reduction in their pay, a move that has understandably infuriated the doctors' union.
Intern doctors are the ones who hold the fort in smaller facilities, providing crucial care to a vast majority of Kenyans, especially in rural areas. Reducing their pay would be a slap in the face of their dedication and a severe blow to an already under-resourced system.
The doctors' demands are legitimate. They deserve fair compensation and better working conditions. However, the government's stance of not being able to afford the 2017 collective bargaining agreement is also a reality. Kenya faces significant financial constraints.
This is where sobriety and compromise come in. While the Sh206,000 salary for interns should be maintained, other aspects of the agreement can be negotiated. The doctors must be willing to consider a phased approach, with salary increases implemented over a set timeframe alongside government efforts to improve working conditions and address equipment shortages.
The longer this stalemate continues, the greater the cost to Kenyans. Patients with chronic illnesses are going without their medication, surgeries for life-threatening conditions are being delayed, and the potential for outbreaks of preventable diseases increases.
The current situation is a classic example of the proverb, "When two elephants fight, it's the grass that gets hurt." The doctors' strike has left Kenyans, the "grass" in this metaphor, suffering. Kenyans with chronic illnesses are going without medication, surgeries are being delayed, and some may even be losing their lives due to lack of access to critical care.
Yet, amidst these demands, the reality of Kenya's financial constraints cannot be ignored. The government contends with limited fiscal resources, grappling with competing priorities in a complex economic landscape. The impasse necessitates a spirit of compromise and pragmatism from both parties.
The doctors and the government must come to the table with a spirit of compromise, prioritising the well-being of Kenyans. Both sides need to acknowledge the harsh realities – the doctors, the financial constraints of the government, and the government, the critical role doctors play in safeguarding public health.
Kenya cannot afford a prolonged doctors' strike. We need our doctors working in hospitals, and we need the government to find a way to support them. Let us put Kenya first and end this damaging standoff. Only then can we begin to heal the cracks in our healthcare system and ensure a healthier future for all Kenyans.
The resolution of this protracted standoff demands a departure from entrenched positions towards a common ground that safeguards the interests of doctors and the health of our nation. It is time to heed the lesson of the wind and the sun—to embrace persuasion over coercion and to prioritize the collective welfare of Kenya above all else.
