Health

Intern doctors to finally receive delayed April salaries, next postings set for mid-June

An activist holds a placard in front of riot police officers, as doctors and medical practitioners under the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) participate in a demonstration on April 16, 2024. (Photo: Monicah Mwangi/Reuters)

By Lucy Mumbi | Monday, June 3, 2024

With the current cohort of interns set to complete their internships in July 2024, the union proposed that the next group be posted this month to prevent service disruptions.

Intern doctors who did not receive their April salaries will get them alongside their June pay following a resolution on Monday by the doctors' union and the government.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) announced this on Monday following a meeting with Mary Muthoni, the Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards.

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They reviewed the progress of the National Government Return to Work Formula (RTWF), which was signed on May 8, 2024, following a 56-day health workers' strike.

With the current cohort of interns set to complete their internships in July 2024, the union proposed that the next group be posted this month to prevent service disruptions.

“We proposed that the posting of the next cohort be done by mid-June, even as we continue to find mutually agreeable terms of service both in and out of court. This will ensure that they do not lose time, even as Kenyans continue to enjoy uninterrupted service provision,” KMPDU Secretary-General Denis Miskellah told journalists after the meeting.

Miskellah also announced that the enhanced medical cover for doctors was being processed and would take effect on July 1, 2024, as the enhanced NHIF cover lapses.

He further noted that coordination with the Council of Government (CoG) was underway to address the matter of arrears owed to county doctors.

“The Ministry of Health also confirmed that it is in receipt of communication from the Head of Public Service on the presidential directive to reduce the payment period of the CBA 2017 arrears from five years to two years,” he said.

Regarding promotions, the union said it had provided a list of eligible members to the relevant ministries, with the Ministry of Health set to begin formulating the Human Resources for Health Policy next week. It aims to establish staffing norms and standards for hiring at least 2,000 doctors annually.

Miskellah further said the draft Terms of Reference for the Presidential Task Force on Health Reforms (PTOHR) were ready, with the Ministry and the CoG expected to submit the names of stakeholders to the president for consideration.

He stressed the importance of fully implementing the 2017 CBA before starting new negotiations and expressed the desire for a court ruling on the agreement's legality.

“The union has communicated to the ministry the need to fully implement the 2017 CBA before a new CBA negotiation is commenced. We are also keen to know the court's decision on the legality and sanctity of the CBA and the tenets of CBA negotiations and signing that we need to adhere to so that in the future, both parties do not disagree on a signed and court-adopted CBA,” he said.

Miskellah also praised the Ministry of Health's proactive stance and urged county governments to follow suit, particularly regarding promotions, salary harmonisation, and the non-victimisation of striking doctors.

A follow-up meeting with the CoG will take place on June 10 to check the progress of the county governments' RTWF.