Doctors reject government's internship proposals, demand fulfilment of 2017 CBA

The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) has rejected internship proposals offered by the government.

Through its Secretary General Davji Atellah on Wednesday, the doctors emphasised their refusal to accept the proposals and criticised the mediation process for excluding their participation despite efforts to address ongoing health sector issues.

“We reiterate that until our demands are met and the 2017 CBA implemented, the letters mentioned above will not be picked and will be treated with the contempt and deference they deserve,” he said in a statement.

The government, through its Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, announced on Tuesday that all eligible medical student interns to collect their posting letters from the Ministry of Health's offices with effect from Thursday, April 4, 2024.

However, the SG reiterated KMPDU’s stance that until their demands are met and the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement is implemented, the letters regarding internship proposals will not be acknowledged.

KMPDU, in its statement, also condemned the portrayal of medical interns as medical student interns, emphasising their crucial role in the healthcare system.

Atellah stressed that referring to them in such a manner is misleading to the public and undermines their significance.

“Contravening the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and subjecting our healthcare workers to a 70–91 per cent pay cut is unlawful, punitive, and a gross violation of the global, regional, and national labour laws,” he added.

Atellah further highlighted the absence of a documented return-to-work formula with legally binding commitments, which he deemed questionable and indicative of the government’s failure to uphold its promises.

“Our absence on the negotiating table despite furtive efforts to address the pertinent and perennial problems that have plagued our nation’s health discredits the entire process,” he noted.

In addition, KMPDU emphasised that it remains committed to improving health for all Kenyans and remains open to bipartisan talks and negotiations.

“We shall relentlessly pursue the rights of Kenya and her people to attain the highest level of care and the rights of our brothers and sisters, the Kenyan doctors, to fair labour practices as enshrined in our constitution,” Atellah added.

KMPDU, which represents more than 7,000 members, went on strike on March 15 to demand payment of their salary arrears and the immediate hiring of trainee doctors, among other grievances.

The government on Tuesday asked the doctors to end their strike, saying the salary arrears have been paid and that trainee doctors would be hired from Thursday this week at a cost of Sh2.4 billion ($18.39 million).

Koskei has also urged medical practitioners to suspend the strike to facilitate the resumption of the court-sanctioned mediation under the auspices of the Whole of the Nation Approach Committee on the Health Sector.

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At the moment, the nationwide doctors' strike is in its third week.