Doctors Strike: Government directs medical interns to collect letters on Thursday

The government has announced the allocation of resources necessary to facilitate the immediate deployment and placement of all medical interns.

In a press release on Tuesday, Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said the requisite budget support of Sh2.4 billion has been allocated for the immediate deployment and posting of the 2023/24 cohort of medical student interns.

He noted that this is in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).

All eligible medical student interns have been urged to collect their posting letters from the Ministry of Health's offices with effect from Thursday, April 4, 2024.

Additionally, the government has provided grants and scholarships for eligible postgraduate medical officers.

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 Health Sector.

"With that spirit in mind, the leadership of the KMPDU is urged to comply with its obligations under the Court's Orders by immediately suspending the ongoing industrial action," he said.

Further, the government has also facilitated the payment of basic salary arrears of doctors, accrued by the National government and entities arising from the 2017-2021 CBA.

The doctors took to the streets on March 14, 2024, and demanded, among other things, the deployment of medical interns.

As the strike entered its third week, other demands included settling seven years' worth of basic salary arrears, expediting promotions, and recruiting more doctors to combat chronic understaffing. Additionally, doctors seek comprehensive medical coverage, resolve salary delays, and convert discriminatory contracts to permanent and pensionable terms.

Furthermore, the doctors demand the reinstatement of illegally dismissed colleagues, facilitation of specialised training, and ensuring fair compensation for post-graduate doctors.

Priority issues

However, as part of its mandate, the Whole of the Nation Approach Committee said it identified and prioritised the nineteen issues outlined by the doctors in the notice of industrial action.

The committee noted that the issues were classified and assigned responsibility to each tier of government.

Six issues were designated as falling under the mandate of the national government, nine under the mandate of county governments, and four under the concurrent mandate.

Consequently, county governments are currently in different stages of addressing the issues raised within their respective counties.

Earlier, doctors had vowed not to succumb to coercion until all concerns outlined in the strike notice were satisfactorily addressed.

KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah had expressed profound disappointment at their employers' response to their strike notice, saying they had shifted towards threats and intimidation tactics instead of addressing the core issues raised.

"We categorically denounce such attempts to intimidate and coerce our members into abandoning our legitimate struggle for better working conditions and healthcare services for all Kenyans. Doctors deserve decent and dignified work."

However, Koskei has emphasised that both tiers of the government, state agencies, and institutional stakeholders are collaborating to resolve the current dispute and achieve a lasting resolution to the cycle of industrial action in the health sector.

He underscored that they are committed to fostering constructive dialogue, addressing concerns, and ensuring the health and well-being of all Kenyans.