The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has sounded a stern warning to 18 counties over continued neglect of healthcare workers’ welfare, raising the specter of looming strikes if urgent action is not taken.
Speaking during the union’s Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) held in Mombasa, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah accused the counties of creating an unbearable working environment for doctors, notably through the delayed remittance of contributions to the Social Health Authority (SHA). This failure has left many medics unable to access the very health services they provide.
Counties such as Lamu and Kiambu were named among the worst offenders. Dr. Atellah gave Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale a two-week ultimatum to intervene and ensure the doctors’ grievances are addressed or face widespread strikes across the 18 counties.
“Doctors in counties such as Kiambu are unable to access medical services due to non-remittance of SHA contributions,” said Dr. Atellah. “We have approved strikes in these counties, but in honour of your presence, CS Duale, we will postpone issuing notices by two weeks.”
The ADC, themed “Caring for the Caregivers: Prioritizing Doctors’ Rights and Wellbeing,” marked a historic moment with the attendance of CS Duale — the first sitting Health Cabinet Secretary to grace the union’s annual meeting.
Dr. Atellah lamented the union’s unsuccessful efforts to engage with Kiambu’s leadership and emphasized that should health services be disrupted, the responsibility would fall directly on the national government.
KMPDU Deputy Secretary General Dr. Dennis Miskellah further argued that healthcare management might be too overwhelming for county governments, calling for its reversion to the national government and the establishment of a Health Service Commission.
In response, CS Duale requested a list of the non-compliant counties and pledged to engage the respective governors to resolve the impasse swiftly, aiming to avert a nationwide healthcare crisis.
