Health services in public hospitals are facing further challenges as consultants, specialized doctors who have completed advanced training in specific medical fields, announced their participation in the ongoing strike.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) declared that consultants would join the strike from Friday, exacerbating the impact of the strike, which began on March 14 and has now entered its twenty-second day.
KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Atellah stated that the union plans to escalate the strike next week by including some private hospitals. Most of the affected consultants are based at Kenyatta National Hospital.
“As the strike enters day 22, we have to continue being on strike and we are going to escalate it such that we are going to stop offering private services that were offered before by consultants,” Atellah explained. He emphasized the need for collective action to protect the medical profession.
Meanwhile, the union advised medical interns not to collect their posting letters from the Ministry of Health, following government directives for immediate deployment. Head of Public Service Felix Koskei had announced the allocation of Sh2.4 billion for the deployment of medical student interns, urging the union to suspend the strike amid ongoing mediation efforts to address the remaining issues.
However, Atellah criticized the government’s actions, describing the posting letters as disrespectful and unjust. He asserted that until the government honors the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), interns will not collect the letters.
The posting of medical interns was among the key issues that led to the strike on March 14. KMPDU Chairperson Abi Mwachi accused the government of using the allocation to validate what he deemed illegal salary cuts for junior doctors.
