Clinical officers claim discrimination by SHA, issue three-week strike notice
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
Union says the SHA board had excluded clinical officers from the list of service providers, even though they run over 1,000 private healthcare facilities in Kenya.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) has issued a three-week strike notice, threatening to withdraw services if the government fails to address issues surrounding the rollout of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), now rebranded to Taifa Care.
This is the second strike threat this week from a medical union, following similar grievances raised by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) over unresolved issues in the healthcare sector.
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KUCO officials have accused the Social Health Authority (SHA) of discrimination, claiming that clinical officers have been blocked from offering services under the new health insurance model.
During the union's annual general meeting on Friday, KUCO National Chairperson Peterson Wachira expressed his frustration with the SHA's management, which he said has led to a crisis affecting over six million Kenyans.
"We shall down tools on December 23, 2024, if the board does not rescind its decision, and we shall be holding demonstrations every Monday to protest this discrimination," Wachira told journalists.
He said President William Ruto's promise of Universal Health Coverage cannot be fulfilled under the current SHIF implementation model.
Not in service providers list
Wachira said the SHA board had excluded clinical officers from the list of service providers, even though they run over 1,000 private healthcare facilities across the country.
With more than 30,000 members, KUCO represents professionals involved in various aspects of patient care, from administrative duties to clinical evaluations.
The crisis, according to KUCO, began with the implementation of SHIF, which has led to a breakdown in cooperation between the union and the new SHA board.
"The health sector is on the verge of collapse due to poor management by senior officers from SHA," said Wachira.
He further criticised the new funding model introduced under SHIF, claiming it has worsened the situation.
KUCO's threats of industrial action come soon after a similar announcement by KMPDU.
The medical practitioners' union has called on all intern doctors to withdraw their services and plans to demonstrate in December, intensifying the pressure on the government to address mounting issues in the healthcare sector.
But following the threats by KMPDU, the Ministry of Health said it had disbursed Sh965.8 million to pay intern healthcare workers after months of delays.
Meanwhile, a special delegates conference organised by KMPDU will take place today (Saturday, November 30) at the Safari Park Hotel, with over 600 medical professionals gathering to discuss ongoing grievances, unfulfilled government promises and unresolved issues affecting the healthcare sector.
The ongoing disputes highlight the deepening tensions within Kenya's healthcare system, as medical professionals demand more accountability and better management of health initiatives that directly affect the well-being of millions of Kenyans.
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