By Betty Luke
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Upper Eastern Region has downplayed a statement by Isiolo Deputy Governor James Lowasa that the county government had fulfilled the doctors’ demands and therefore no doctor was expected to go on strike.
Addressing journalists on Monday morning, DG Lowasa who is also the County Health Executive said the county government had among others ensured the promotion of the doctors and employed others to ease the workload at the public hospitals.
“We have fulfilled all the demands they had; the promotion process is already at the County Public Service Board (CPSB). We have also employed new doctors and are now awaiting deployment,” Dr Lowasa said.
The official warned the medics against engaging in the boycott as they would face dire consequences.
“Even if they want to act in solidarity with their colleagues, they need to understand that health is a devolved function and anyone who engages in the strike, here in Isiolo, will face disciplinary action including sacking,” he warned.
But in a quick rejoinder, KMPDU Upper Eastern Secretary Dr Elvis Mwandiki revealed that Isiolo was among the counties in the region that had done very little in honoring the doctors’ demands.
He said among the issues that were yet to be addressed was the provision of medical insurance covers for the doctors, promotions and failure to honour the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“Our efforts to hold CBA implementation meetings with the county government have not borne fruits,” said the official.
A spot check by The Press Point at the Isiolo Teaching and Referral Hospital showed that a majority of doctors had not reported for work on Monday morning.
Patients who had been booked for appointments were turned back at the casualty department and told they would be contacted once the current stalemate was solved.
This comes as the nationwide doctor’s strike enters the fifth day with the union agreeing for negotiations with the Ministry of Health to solve the issue.
The meeting is currently ongoing.
Among the issues of concern by the medics are the failure by the MoH to post medical interns and non-adherence to their 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
