Health CS Susan Nakhumicha has asked striking doctors to call off the strike, saying they risk being sacked.
Speaking at a Tv interview, Dr. Nakhumicha said the government budget was inadequate to fund the ‘outlandish’ CBA demands.
“I have given instruction to recruit doctors,We are also looking at another cadre of interns- clinical officer interns, nursing interns. We will not allow a crisis to happen… We have patients in ICUs.”
On the burning CBA deal, the Health CS reiterated the government is negotiating a new deal that is in line with the economic situation.
“We have remained committal to addressing some of the concerns raised by the doctors, and those that are not within our means we have left them to be sorted by other parties. Their grievances are as a result of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in 2017 that lapsed. “
She revealed that the government was even suggesting unpaid internships for medical students to cut on the ballooning costs.
“Remuneration is given to an employee by an employer. We cannot speak about remuneration for interns. They should be learning. We must discuss staffing of human resource in health facilities.”
Doctors have been on strike for the last 6 days calling for an implementation of their CBA, as well as posting of medical interns.
Doctors from referral hospitals have also vowed to join the KMPDU led strike that has left ailing Kenyans at the mercy of costly Private hospital care.
County governors have also given ultimatums to their striking staff warning that their actions amount to indiscipline and subsequent sacking.