KMPDU wants county to address promotion issues

Medics have decried the shortage of doctors and specialists in public hospitals.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) said the shortage had worsened in the past two years after the county failed to employ more doctors.

KMPDU South Rift Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah said each sub-county hospital was operating with a single doctor despite increased demand for health services.

Dr Atellah cited Kabazi, Subukia, Molo, Bahati sub-county hospitals as among those adversely affected by the shortage of health personnel.

“Most sub-county hospital are not able to offer services to patients because of lack of enough doctors,” said Atellah.

Patients seeking services in sub-county hospitals, he said, were now being referred to the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital (PGH), a facility that is also facing shortage.

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HIGH FLOW

He said the referral hospital had 12 medical officers - five pharmacists and six dentists - who could not effectively handle high flow of patients.

The union official said the county government had not employed doctors for the past two years yet more than 20 had left to further their studies.

Eleven medical doctors also resigned between March and December, last year, to join private sector in the county.

“Doctors are overworked and cannot even take leave because of the shortage,” he said.

In a letter written to Governor Lee Kinyanjui by the union dated January 25, officials want more doctors employed, and the county to address the issue of promotions that have not been effected since 2015.

PGH Medical Superintendent Joseph Mburu admitted there was a shortage of doctors, but said it had not affected service delivery.

“Shortage of doctors is a countrywide crisis in the health sector because some doctors go back to school while others opt to join the private sector,” he said.

Dr Mburu said the county had also not been able to employ doctors for the past two years, adding that the issue was being addressed.

He said there were 25 medical interns employed by the county government at PGH, 15 medical officers and more than 10 specialists and consultants.

Chief Officer of Health Dr Samuel Mwaura said he was consulting with the Health Executive to address the issue of doctor shortage.