Intern doctors directed to stay home as KMPDU fights for unpaid salaries
By Lucy Mumbi |
He further emphasised the urgency of the matter, adding, "The government must decide in the coming days whether it wants doctors in hospitals or not."
Intern doctors have been instructed to remain at home from today, November 27, as the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) announced plans to strike in December over unpaid salaries.
Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Atella criticised the government for delaying the salaries of medical interns for four months.
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"As a union, we find these inhumane acts by a government that shows no regard for its healthcare workers unacceptable. We demand the immediate payment of intern doctors' salaries at the rate agreed upon seven years ago," he said.
He further emphasised the urgency of the matter, adding, "The government must decide in the coming days whether it wants doctors in hospitals or not."
Atella criticised the government for failing to honour promises made earlier this year. "On May 8, 2024, we called off our 56-day strike after the government promised to resolve the impasse within 60 days. Seven months later, we are still waiting. How many more medical interns must die before this government keeps its promises? We demand an end to this culture of lies."
The dispute stems from a 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that set intern doctors' monthly salaries at Sh206,000.
However, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) later reduced the amount to between Sh47,000 and Sh70,000, sparking widespread discontent among healthcare professionals.
The union’s directive was also prompted by the death of an intern pharmacist at Thika Level 5 Hospital on Monday and another one two months ago, raising concerns about the mental well-being of unpaid healthcare workers.
The union has vowed to proceed with industrial action in December unless the government addresses the grievances of its members promptly.
"We cannot afford to see any more deaths, despair and disillusionment that are caused by tough working conditions. You must all stay at home as we try to discuss these matters with the government," Atellah said.
Atellah added that doctors will congregate at the Safari Park hotel on November 30 for a national delegates conference with the sole agenda of declaring a strike.
"We know it will be a sad situation that time but the government is entirely responsible because they are failing to honour agreements and they are failing to honour court orders," he said.
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