Health ministry releases Sh965.8 million to pay interns amid criticism from unions

Clinical officers in Kilifi County during a past protest demand higher allowances for interns. (Photo: File/Farhiya Hussein)

By Charity Kilei
Saturday, November 30, 2024

Internship programmes play a crucial role in Kenya's healthcare system, offering practical experience to complement academic training.

Following months of delays, the Ministry of Health has disbursed Sh965.8 million to pay intern healthcare workers. This payment comes shortly after doctors threatened to strike due to the slow implementation of their return-to-work agreement.

In a statement, the ministry expressed satisfaction with the successful processing of monthly stipends and accrued arrears for interns across various healthcare cadres.

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"The payment is a significant milestone in the ministry's commitment to supporting healthcare professionals at the beginning of their careers, while also strengthening Kenya's healthcare system."

The disbursement includes Sh528.6 million to clear arrears and Sh110.6 million for regular payments to intern nursing and clinical officers.

A further Sh326.5 million has been allocated to pay arrears owed to intern medical officers, dental officers, and pharmacists. This ensures that all interns in the mentioned categories are paid in full.

Internship programmes play a crucial role in Kenya's healthcare system, offering practical experience to complement academic training.

The ministry reiterated its commitment to resolving any outstanding issues and ensuring delays do not recur.

There are ongoing negotiations with healthcare unions to finalise collective bargaining agreements in line with legal requirements and court directives.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has accused the Kenya Kwanza government of neglecting intern doctors by failing to honour the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

In a statement issued on Tuesday, KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Atellah condemned President William Ruto’s administration after another intern doctor, Dr Francis Njuki, tragically took his life.

Atellah revealed that Njuki, who had been working as a pharmacist at the Thika Level 5 Hospital since August 2024, had not received a salary since then. He linked the incident to the earlier death of Dr Desiree Moraa in September, who also died by suicide under similar conditions.

"I am aware of five others who attempted suicide and had to be rescued and hospitalised. Their only crime was choosing a career in medicine. How many more intern doctors must die before the government listens and honours the agreement signed in 2017?" wondered Atellah.

Atellah urged the government to implement the 2017 CBA, warning that doctors may be forced to take drastic action, including striking, if the situation is not addressed.

He blamed the Kenya Kwanza administration for the deaths of the young doctors, adding that the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) initiative cannot succeed if the well-being of healthcare workers is neglected.

"The union finds these inhumane actions by a government that does not care about its healthcare workers unacceptable. We demand immediate payment of intern doctors' salaries as per the agreement made seven years ago. The Kenya Kwanza government cannot continue to ignore us with empty promises about UHC while clearly failing to support the health workers responsible for it," said Atellah.