Medics want health docket back to national gov’t

Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) are demanding a centralized system of handling of salaries and other human resource affairs for health workers in all counties.

KMPDU chair Samuel Oroko has asked Senate to draft laws to establish a health services board or committee to manage such affairs instead of individual counties as is the case currently.

Oroko, who was speaking when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Health, said devolution of health functions has made it difficult to pay, promote, transfer and train health workers.

The Senate Committee chaired by Mohamed Kuti assured the medics that their concerns will be presented to the Health Cabinet Secretary.

He, however, disagreed with the medics’ union that health services had worsened under county governments.

Hundreds of patients have turned to private hospitals for medical care following the strike by doctors and nurses that has affected several counties.

On Tuesday, the Council of Governors claimed it was not aware of any county where health care has been paralysed.

The council’s human resources committee chairman and Kisii Governor James Ongwae told Parliament that all striking health workers have returned to work.