The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
The Kenya Medical Association (KMA) is ready for fresh dialogue with the Government to resolve the doctors' strike.
According to a communication by the National Executive Council (NEC) to members, they are exploring options to initiate talks.
“We have resolved going forward to resume talks immediately with government, calling in all the requisite parties. Goodwill is key from government side and will be displayed by stopping negative press statements and any intimidation,” reads a communication from NEC.
But the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KPMDU) maintained that the strike is still on.
“KMA did not call the strike. Surprisingly, the government can spend Sh20 million to put up adverts in the media, yet even for research they only allocate Sh11 million. This money can be saved to pay doctors,” said Ouma Oluga, the union’s secretary general.
The association noted that meetings held by stakeholders on the sidelines including the Ministry of Health, agreed that the mandated bodies to negotiate are the union and government while the rest of can only serve an advisory role.
Meanwhile, the government has denied claims of sourcing doctors from India to replace the striking medics in the country.
Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu said contrary to claims that India had refused to offer its surplus doctors to Kenya during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit to New Delhi, there were no such plans.
The CS said the matter was not part of President Kenyatta’s bilateral talks with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He insisted that the powers to initiate such a plan lie squarely with the ministry.
“Let it be known that the Head of State did not go to India to look for doctors. It is only me who can initiate such a proposal. But let it be known sourcing of foreign doctors is a though we will consider and when the time comes we will let the country know,” said Dr Mailu.
Mailu said the government is exploring every possibility to ensure Kenyans receive services.
India, Philippines, Cuba and South Sudan are the countries the government is eyeing to source doctors from.
He said following the resumption of duty by nurses and clinicians who were also on strike, some 6,000 facilities-health centres and dispensaries- are operational.
The CS noted that all 76 prison facilities across the country (six of which can accommodate inpatient), are operational across the country among them Naivasha, Kodiaga, Shimo la Tewa and Kamiti.
He added that the government has reached out to more than 2,000 faith based facilities-registered by the National Health Insurance Fund- to treat patients.
“We will also be mobilising counties to supply them with drugs and personnel so that the public can access inpatient and outpatient services from the nearest facility,” said Mailu. He added: “The situation was so grave in December but I know we have some doctors who are at work attending to emergencies.”
join