Kenya medics unions tell unpaid health workers to boycott work

NAIROBI, KENYA: Unions representing doctors and nurses have asked their members who have not received July salaries to down their tools from Monday.

Secretary General of Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union Sultani Matendechero said health staff who feel they can no longer go to work due to lack of cash should just stay away from work.

But he dismissed reports that doctors will begin a national strike today.

Governors have repeatedly accused the National Treasury of sabotage by releasing county cash behind schedule, making counties unable to pay salaries.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that almost half of nurses in all the 47 counties are yet to receive their July salaries.

Sunday, Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Nurses Seth Panyako told nurses who are yet to be paid to proceed to the county headquarters to demand their salaries.

Panyako said among the counties that have not paid their nurses include Kisii, Busia and Mombasa.

However, it was relief for at least 300 doctors on specialised training at the Kenyatta National Hospital after Nairobi County agreed to release their July salaries from Monday. This temporarily resolved the tussle between the county government and the Ministry of Health.

Initially, the county government had refused to pay them insisting training of health workers was a function of the National Government, adding that they were in a referral hospital that is under the central government.

But last-minute negotiations last week with Treasury officials led to release of their salaries.

Dr Matendechero said health workers are seriously considering joining the referendum push so that a health services commission is included in the Constitution to handle human resources matters in the public health sector.