The Council of Governors (CoG), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Social Health Authority (SHA), and the Digital Health Agency (DHA), has issued a press statement urging clinical officers to end their ongoing strike. This follows a consultative meeting aimed at ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services across Kenya’s counties.
In the statement dated January 20, 2025, the CoG highlighted key resolutions to address the grievances of clinical officers. Among the pivotal measures is the SHA’s commitment to contracting and empaneling facilities and practitioners in line with the Social Health Insurance regulations. “The Authority shall henceforth pay SHA benefits to the said licensed facilities and practitioners by the Clinical Officers Council,” the statement reads.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health has scheduled a meeting with the Clinical Officers Council (COC) and other stakeholders to expedite the empanelment of facilities and pre-authorization of services by specialized clinical officers. The ministry has also pledged to enhance the capacity of the Clinical Officers Council to improve efficiency in SHA processes. “The Ministry will undertake continuous capacity building to enhance efficiency,” the statement further noted.
Efforts to modernize operations were also addressed, with plans for the DHA to support the implementation of automated systems. These systems aim to streamline processes such as pre-authorization and facility empanelment.
The CoG concluded by appealing to the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers to consider halting the strike, emphasizing the importance of sustaining healthcare delivery in county facilities. “We call upon the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers to call off the ongoing strike to ensure service delivery does not grind to a halt,” the statement urged.
