Efforts to resolve the protracted doctors' strike hit another snag on Friday, May 3, as talks between government officials and the doctors union collapsed again, prolonging a healthcare crisis that has gripped the nation for over seven weeks now.
The negotiations, aimed at ending the strike, which entered its 53rd day on Saturday, faltered despite the emergence of a proposed return-to-work formula.
The breakdown threatens to extend the strike, potentially mirroring the severity of the 2017 healthcare standoff that endured for a daunting 100 days.
The proposed formula, which had seen significant progress with the resolution of 17 out of 19 contentious issues, faced a deadlock as both parties failed to find common ground on the remaining two points.
Led by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, the government delegation, comprising key officials including Cabinet Secretaries Susan Nakhumicha (Health), Florence Bore of Labour, Council of Governors Whip Stephen Sang (Nandi), and the Council's Health Committee Chairperson Muthomi Njuki, as well as Wailes Ahmed Abdullahi, convened with the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) in a bid to clinch an agreement. However, efforts proved futile as the doctors' union remained unyielding.
While the government delegation did not disclose the specifics of the unresolved issues, it was revealed that the doctors had introduced new demands, stalling the progress of negotiations that appeared to be nearing completion.
Frustrated by the impasse, Koskei issued a stern warning, stating, "If the doctors will not have signed the return to work formula by Monday, we want to ask the court to put necessary measures to ensure Kenyans get services."
The dispute primarily revolves around the remuneration of medical interns, with doctors demanding the retention of a monthly payment of Ksh206,000, a figure contested by the government, which asserts it can only afford Ksh70,000.
Despite the emergence of a proposed agreement outlining the terms for ending the strike, including the immediate suspension of the strike and the return to work of union members, the doctors' union remained steadfast in their stance.
Speaking to Kenyans over the phone, KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Bhimji Atellah reaffirmed the union's commitment to their cause, stating that the strike would continue until the government met their demands satisfactorily.
According to Davji, the proposal have timelines that the doctor’s union is uncomfortable with. He stated, “We want clear timelines for implementation of our issues before we return to work.”
The proposed agreement encompasses various issues, including the provision of medical cover for doctors by County Governments, the release of doctors for postgraduate studies, the recruitment of doctors, and the establishment of schemes for car loans and mortgages.
Koskei and CoG health committee chairperson Governor Muthomi Njuki has stated that the government will seek free will from the courts to sack the suspended doctors, claiming that service delivery has been significantly hampered.
With the strike showing no signs of abating, concerns are mounting over the impact on healthcare services and the outbreak of diseases as the ongoing rains continue to flood around the county. Patients continue to bear the brunt of the standoff, grappling with limited access to medical care amid the prolonged crisis.
