Solve health sector impasse on devolution

NAIROBI: With the advent of devolution, the public health sector went into a spin following a protracted stand-off between the national and county governments and the industry players over the management of health services.

Notably, while other health functions have been devolved to the counties, the national government remains in charge of training, welfare and promotions, yet the major bone of contention has been remuneration, which doctors and nurses claim county governments are ill-equipped to handle. For the better part of last year, we witnessed a number of strikes by nurses and doctors, which compromised the quality of service. Across the country, striking doctors and nurses invariably complained of poor remuneration, delayed salaries, lack of medical supplies and poor working conditions.