Patients seeking services in public hospitals continue to suffer as the doctors strike persists. At the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, theatre services have been halted. Meanwhile, medical laboratory officers have threatened to join the doctors in the nationwide strike, giving the government a 7 day notice starting Tuesday.
A section of MP’s also called on President William Ruto to address the demands by doctors and bring the strike to an end.
“The CS for health has proven to be very incompetent, talking in rallies and funerals. We want that CS to step aside and we will bring an impeachment motion against the CS. We want the president to hold a meeting with KMPDU,” said Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
The Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers is urging the government to promptly formalize the employment status of various healthcare workers, including those involved in Universal Health Coverage (UHC), COVID Health Emergency Response, UHC interns, and National TB and Lung diseases Global Fund Employees, as well as individuals employed through hospital boards under Permanent and Pensionable terms.
“The reconciliation committee comprising cabinet secretaries from the Ministries of Health, Labour and Treasury, the Head of Public Service, KMPDU officials ,Salaries and Remuneration Commission, County governments and national referral hospitals will hold another meeting on Wednesday a second attempt at ending the impasse,” Pius Nyakundi, Secretary General, KNUMLO, said.
