Kenyan public hospital doctors have rejected a government attempt to end their weeks-long strike, throwing the country’s healthcare system into further disarray.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), representing over 7,000 doctors, began the strike on March 15th demanding unpaid salaries and the hiring of more trainee doctors.
The government responded on Tuesday, claiming to have settled salary arrears and announcing the recruitment of trainee doctors starting this Thursday at a cost of 2.4 billion shillings ($18.39 million).
However, KMPDU chairman Abidan Mwachi refuted these claims on social media, stating their complete rejection of the government’s proposals.
The ongoing strike, compounded by a recent walkout by clinical officers, has had severe consequences. Patients, like Jane Akoth in Nairobi, are being turned away from hospitals, delaying critical treatments.
In Tharaka Nithi county, a local MP reported the death of a one-year-old due to the lack of healthcare access caused by the strike.
KMPDU seeks not only settled salary arrears from a 2017 agreement but also demands regarding medical insurance, timely salary payments, and fair compensation for doctors pursuing higher education while working in public hospitals.
Kenya’s healthcare sector, already underfunded and understaffed according to the doctors, faces a recurring struggle with strikes.
A similar three-month walkout occurred in 2017, and individual hospitals witnessed sporadic strikes during the pandemic over a lack of protective gear and other grievances.
The current strike highlights the ongoing need for a sustainable solution to ensure quality healthcare for Kenyan citizens.
