In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…
- Doctors and clinicians in Machakos County will strike starting Wednesday, halting medical services at all public health facilities due to unresolved issues with the county government.
- Health workers demand proper redesignation, promotions, a return-to-work formula, and comprehensive medical coverage, citing two years of unproductive negotiations.
Patients in Machakos County will face disruptions in accessing medical services at all public health facilities next week, as doctors and clinicians have announced a strike starting Wednesday.
This decision follows a two-week notice period during which the healthcare workers expressed their concerns.
They claim the county government has not addressed the critical issues they have been raising for the past two years.
The health workers are advocating for several key changes, including the appropriate redesignation and promotion of specialists across all levels, the implementation of a return-to-work formula, and the provision of comprehensive medical coverage for all health workers.
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They argue that this coverage should be commensurate with the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the new State Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
During a press conference outside Machakos Level Five Hospital on Saturday, Dr. Charles Okumu, the Chairperson of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Eastern Region, criticized the county government for neglecting their demands.
He pointed out that this disregard has forced doctors due for promotion to perform tasks that do not align with their job descriptions.
Dr. Okumu warned that patients, including those from neighboring counties who rely on Machakos County health services, would not receive treatment due to the ongoing failure of their employer to address their concerns.
Bonface Mitambo, Chairperson of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) Machakos chapter, announced that starting Tuesday at midnight, medical services would cease if the county government fails to meet their demands.
He emphasized that after two years of unproductive discussions about their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the health workers have reached their limit.
Donald Mutiso, Secretary General of the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union, highlighted the financial burden on health workers who have been using their own resources to address public health issues in their communities.
He criticized the county for not providing adequate transportation mechanisms necessary for disease prevention at the village level.
In response, Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti, after signing performance contracts for county officials on Friday, instructed the public service board to expedite the promotion process.
County Secretary Muya Ndambuki acknowledged receipt of the doctors’ strike notice but accused the health practitioners of making their grievances public before the expiration of the notice period.
He urged them to reconsider the strike and engage in dialogue to resolve the issues amicably.