Medical services partially disrupted in hospitals as doctors’ strike kicks off

Medical services across various public health facilities were paralysed after doctors begun their nationwide strike officially on Thursday.

Spot check carried out by Citizen TV across various facilities established that several patients in need of special care were turned away, with others forced to seek the services in private hospitals.

The industrial action, however, had a slow start in some facilities which continued to offer services interrupted as they hope that officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) and the Ministry of Health will reach a consensus soon on the grievances raised by the medics.

At Kakamega County General Teaching and Referral Hospital, several patients in need of specialised care were turned away.

One of them, Fredrick Goli, said: “Nilikuwa nimebookiwa leo clinic ya orthopedics kwa sababu nilifanyiwa surgery so kufika leo naambiwa madaktari wamegoma.”

It was a long hopeless wait for patients in Nakuru County, where about 160 doctors joined their colleagues in the nationwide strike.

In Bungoma County, Health CEC Dr. Andrew Wamalwa said only 11 out of 37 doctors at the Bungoma County Referral Hospital turned up for work, while only 3 doctors out of 25 doctors at Webuye County Hospital reported to duty.

Patients at Nyeri level 5 hospitals confirmed having received treatment, with others saying they had been asked to come back on later dates.

The county government has since directed all the doctors who are on duty to report to work.

The industrial action had a slow start in other public facilities like Mbagathi County Referral Hospital where patients continued to receive medical services uninterrupted.

Staff at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi had received communication directing them to be at their work stations.

The internal communication indicated that the hospital had secured a stay order from the court barring the medics from joining the strike to facilitate the parties involved to reach an agreement on among others issues the minimum safety services to be provided in the event of a strike.

Mama Lucy Hospital CEO Dr Martin Wafula confirmed that hundreds of patients who had turned up to seek medical services at the facility were attended to.

At the Kisumu County Referral Hospital, services at the prenatal and outpatient sections went on as usual with nurses and clinical officers attending to patients.

Kisumu resident Albesta Godmeasaid: “Tangu jana iko tofauti...wamekuwa kidogo but hao kidogo wenye wanakuja hapa wanatreat watu vizuri.”

Dr. Tom Nyamwara, a medical superintendent at the facility, noted: “We’re expected to be on duty by the county government of Kisumu so we do not intend to disrupt services...we have staff on duty and if you walk around you will be able to meet our colleagues, the nurses, patients, and the doctors.”

The doctors are accusing the Ministry of Health headed by Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha of reneging on the promise to post medical interns, remit payment for doctors taking post graduate studies, failure to implement the salary increment as agreed upon in the 2017 CBA among other grievances.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court has ordered a stay on KMPDU strike notice to allow for a resolution to the impasse.

Dr. Aggrey Orwenyo, KMDU Nyanza Secretary General, said: “Wanachama wetu Kisii county ni 189, nimepita ata hospitali zote hakuna kazi inaendelea...wale wako si madaktari...tuko na issues na redesignation, promotion and arbitrary transfers.”

Kisii Health CECM Ronald Nyakweba however reduted this statement saying: “Hakika shughuli zetu katika hospitali zetu ni kama kawaida, hapa Kisii hatujaona kama kuna shida...madaktari wetu wamekuwa wakija kazi, ni wachache tu ambao hawakuja.”