KMPDU indicated that the strike dubbed ‘Occupy MOH’ will be until all medical interns are posted to health facilities nationwide in line with the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) on Friday, July 5 announced plans to hold protests at the Ministry of Health’s premises in Nairobi, effective Monday, July 8, 2024.
In a letter to the Nairobi Regional Police Command, KMPDU indicated that the strike dubbed ‘Occupy MOH’ will be until all medical interns are posted to health facilities nationwide in line with the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
“Reference is made to the return to work (RTWF) dated 8th May 2024 in which it was agreed that intern doctors would collect their internship letters within 60 days. This agreement, which was deposited in court referenced as EL032 and EL036 attached here, is yet to be fulfilled as of today. The 60 days lapses on 7th July 2024,” KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah wrote in part.
KMPDU SG Davji Atellah during protests in Nairobi on Thursday, February 29, 2024. /KMPDU
According to Atellah, the union had been holding a series of meetings with the aim of implementing the return-to-work formula at Kenyatta National Hospital and the Ministry of Health. Per the 2017 CBA, the internship posting stalemate was to be resolved within 60 days.
The union thus requested that the police provide security as well as maintain order for all participants during the protests.
“Consequently, we have scheduled a sit-in day and night at the Ministry of Health where all the medical interns will be ready to collect their letters as agreed and in compliance with the RTWF and court order on Monday, 8 July 2024, starting at 9:00 AM.
“This letter is to inform you to provide security and maintain order for all participants, during this event. Your cooperation and support in facilitating a peaceful and orderly event will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” added the letter.
KMPDU is a union of medical practitioners, pharmacists and dentists registered as such by the Registrar of Trade Unions under the Labour Relations Act, representing a simple majority of medical practitioners, pharmacists and dentists employed by the National government, County Governments, Teaching & Referral Hospitals, public universities as well as public and private hospitals within the Republic.
Atellah on Tuesday revealed that KMPDU was in agreement with the Ministry of Health that interns must be posted as per CBA 2017 before the lapse of the 60-day negotiation window as per its Return to Work Formula.
Furthermore, the Ministry led by Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha was to have an engagement with the Treasury before the final meeting set for Thursday, July 4, 2024.
In regards to post-graduate fees for medical interns, Dr. Atellah expressed that the Ministry of Health paid school fees to some of the MMED students but left out others.
“We have agreed that they will share with us this list amounting to Ksh.110 million. All the pending cases will be sorted in time to enable them to sit for examinations: especially those discriminated against by the illegal training committee decision to list some courses as non-priority,” he said.
Concerning the 1-year contract employment of doctors at KNH, Dr. Atellah noted that the Ministry of Health and the hospital management will by the end of the week come up with a mechanism to expand the establishment that will ensure implementation of RTWF clause 7 on the translation of the 1-year contracts to renewable 3-year contracts.
“Their unfair gross salary of Ksh120,000 will also be harmonized to the standard rate of Ksh300.000,” he said.
Other demands include the setting up of the Health Service Commission and the return of the Linda Mama programme. Doctors further expressed their disapproval of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) whose registration process kicked off on July 1.
The fresh protests came barely two months after the government and the doctors had reached an agreement ending the go-slow that crippled healthcare services in the country for close to two months.
The issue of interns’ placement and pay however proved to be a murky affair since the doctors wanted them posted immediately while the government wanted the doctors to wait for a court’s decision.
Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha speaking at Afya House alongside Ministry of Health officials on June 28, 2024. /MINISTRY OF HEALTH