‘There Is No Money!’ Government Stands Firm on Payment for Intern Doctors’ Ksh.206K
Felix Koskei, the Head of Public Service, asserts that the government lacks the financial capacity to meet the Ksh.206,000 monthly salary demand for medical interns. He urges the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) to accept the terms set forth by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
KMPDU is advocating for medical interns to receive compensation of Ksh.206,000 by the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), whereas the government aims to limit payment to a maximum of Ksh.70,000, aligning with SRC suggestions.
Koskei, on the other hand, asserts that the government will not meet the doctors’ requests in terms of payment.
“The government has no money, there is no money to pay Ksh.206,000, let them take the Ksh.70,000 that is on offer,” said Koskei.
“We are running under a limited budget, the economic situation is dire, the entire workforce may not get an increment, the interns until they finish 1 year…get the license.”
The nationwide doctors’ strike reached its one-month mark on Friday, with both the KMPDU and the government showing no willingness to budge on their respective demands.
Healthcare workers have disregarded warnings from both national and local governments to resume their duties or else be subjected to disciplinary measures. Certain unions have hinted that the situation could worsen.
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Discussions up to now have been unable to break the deadlock, primarily revolving around the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the placement of medical interns, among other concerns.
The central point of contention regarding the placement of medical interns revolves around the matter of compensation.
In a press release distributed to media outlets on Friday, Florence Bore, the Labour Cabinet Secretary, encouraged physicians to resume their duties and utilize the dispute resolution mechanisms outlined in the 2007 Labour Relations Act to address their grievances.
Nevertheless, doctors persisted in their stance, even in the face of government warnings of potential dismissal.
Davji Atellah, the Secretary General of KMPDU, was in Kakamega heading a group of medical practitioners during protests, asserting that the intimidations won’t be effective.
“There is no amount of intimidation, threats, that will make doctors go back to work …only the CBA will ensure they go back to work. This is one month we are ready to go for three months,” Dr. Atellah said.
Next week, the Kenya Clinical Officers Union (KUCO) plans to extend the withdrawal of essential services, marking a heightened escalation of the crisis.
‘There Is No Money!’ Government Stands Firm on Payment for Intern Doctors’ Ksh.206K
