CS Nakhumicha Bows To Pressure Over Posting Of Medical Interns

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has announced that her Ministry will begin posting medical interns on Monday, April 1, 2024.

This came after a meeting was held with representatives from the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) on Monday, March 18 to address the issue of posting interns, one of the reasons that could convince doctors to call off the ongoing strike.

Posting of the student medics has been the main reason the doctors' union and the health ministry have been at loggerheads, leading to a health worker’s strike that began last week and entered its fifth day on Monday.

According to the CS, who spoke at a press briefing, they had reached an agreement with KMPDU and that the posting of over a thousand interns would begin after the National Treasury disburses the required funds.

“I’m happy to report that we have made progress as a ministry… We have briefed the union and agreed that we have received confirmation from the Treasury; beginning April 1, we are going to be posting interns,” Nakhumicha told a press conference.

"As a Ministry, we have made progress, one of the issues was on the internship program we have agreed that they are going to participate in the review of the internship policy which is currently ongoing. We are going to review the policy and ensure that is in line with the Universal Health Coverage."

The CS further noted that reconciliation meetings were ongoing to meet some of the demands which were raised by the medics.

On the ministry’s non-adherence to doctors’ 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), Nakhumicha said they will continue negotiations this week and that all pending dues will be cleared per the court’s directives.

“Regarding the CBA that has lapsed, we have agreed that the ministry will continue with negotiations. Within this week, the ministry will call for a meeting,” she said.

"We have also discussed and agreed on the arrears pending for the registrar that the Medical Services Principal Secretary is going to take the lead and have a discussion with universities so that a reconciliation is done."

She emphasised that the National Treasury had disbursed the required funds which will see interns posted to various hospitals and all pending arrears cleared.

However, KMPDU officials rubbished talk of a fruitful discussion, affirming that the strike was still on.

Secretary-General Davji Atellah separately addressed the media shortly after the meeting, where he accused the ministry of rekindling similar announcements without implementation.

“There's understanding that issues are pending on interns, we have had promises they'd be posted in February, March and now in April.  Nothing has been implemented,” he said.

He opined that the government was looking for ways to lower the salaries and allowances of doctors and medical interns, arguing that the strike was meant to protect the interests of the medical fraternity.

KMPDU national chair Abidan Mwachi added: “Our strike is still on and we are in this for a very long time.”