Ministry Of Health Ends Deal with Cuban Doctors
Health Cabinet Secretary Nakhumicha Wafula has announced that the government will not renew its agreement with Cuban physicians who were brought into the country six years ago to cover vacancies in county hospitals.
The agreement between Kenya and Cuba in 2017 formalized a program in which Cuban physicians would assist in Kenyan hospitals and Kenyan physicians would travel to Cuba for specialized training.
“We have decided not to renew the agreement with the Cuban doctors. Our very own healthcare professionals are committed to the cause,” Nakumicha noted.
Nakumicha expressed confidence in the capacity of Kenyan doctors to perform operations in Kenyan hospitals competently while making the announcement.
“As a ministry, I am confident that we will have a highly motivated workforce,” the CS said in a statement.
The agreement between Kenya and Cuba signed during the administration of former President Uhuru was met with opposition from local health practitioners.
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Kenyan doctors bemoaned being sidelined, contending that they could do everything their Cuban counterparts could but lacked the medical equipment and compensation to carry out their duties.
Local physicians also opposed the proposal, arguing that it was unjust to unemployed Kenyan medical professionals.
Nevertheless, Cuba’s healthcare system has been hailed as one of the finest in the world.
This is due to its emphasis on a preventative approach to medicine as opposed to the prevalent curative approach in Kenya.
After the expiration of the two-year contract with Cuba, Kenya extended the agreement, much to the consternation of local physicians.
Institutions such as the Council of Governors (CoG) and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) have demanded the termination of the agreement.
Complaints were lodged about the lucrative remuneration that Cuban physicians have been receiving, which includes comprehensive medical coverage under the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and full coverage of their utility expenses.
Ministry Of Health Ends Deal with Cuban Doctors
