Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has cautioned that the government may consider terminating the employment of striking doctors amid an ongoing impasse between healthcare workers and her ministry.
Physicians have ceased work since the previous week, citing the government’s failure to assign medical interns and the ministry’s non-compliance with the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for doctors.
However, as the strike extends into its eighth day on Thursday, Nakhumicha contends that the doctors are in breach of a court directive instructing them to halt the strike, risking termination for failing to report to duty.
“They have been instructed by the court to halt the strike; actions have consequences,” the health minister stated in an interview with KTN News on Wednesday night.
When questioned about the same courts ordering the health ministry to implement the CBA, the CS defended the government, asserting that they have “implemented [it] to the extent possible.”
“If you are expected to be on duty and you are not, we have found someone else to fulfill the role,” Nakhumicha remarked, alluding to the ministry’s announcement on Monday regarding the posting of medical interns starting next month.
In response to whether this implied the ministry would dismiss the striking doctors and substitute them with the numerous interns awaiting placement, she remarked, “What do you anticipate? I hired someone to carry out the task and granted them the opportunity.”
“We must establish a contingency plan; facilities must be staffed, and someone must attend to the patients, so I cannot simply sit idle while the doctors are on strike,” the minister asserted.
Thus far this week, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the government have convened two meetings on the matter, yet none has yielded the desired outcomes.
Following Monday’s session, Nakhumicha declared that they had reached an accord with KMPDU and that the National Treasury had approved the deployment of interns starting April 1.
Additionally, she announced that her ministry would continue negotiations this week and settle all outstanding dues as per the 2017 CBA, in compliance with the court’s directives.
However, KMPDU officials dismissed the notion of a productive dialogue, insisting that the strike persists. They also raised objections regarding the compensation for interns.
Amidst warnings of an extended strike by doctors based on the government’s handling of their grievances, both parties are scheduled to reconvene at the negotiation table on Thursday for a meeting convened by the Head of Public Service and mandated by the courts.
According to Nakhumicha, rational deliberation is essential for doctors to resolve the deadlock ahead of the meeting, which is anticipated to address the crisis engulfing the healthcare sector.
“This is a forum for rational deliberation; they have even been summoned to the negotiation table by the head of public service. Is this not the appropriate venue for them to voice their concerns?” the CS remarked on Wednesday.
