Crisis in Kenya Health Sector

Discussion about the almost-news events.
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simon makode
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:10 am

Crisis in Kenya Health Sector

Post by simon makode » Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:13 am

“So far, [nurses in]13 counties are on strike and 10 more are planning to join in on Monday. They are: Murang'a, Tana River, Nakuru, Siaya, Kakamega, Narok, Makueni, Bomet and Busia.

On Tuesday and Wednesday next week, Uasin Gishu and Isiolo will respectively join the rest in downing their tools.”
https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Nurses-re ... index.html

“Nurses are on strike in 23 counties. The work boycott began on February 4. The medics are demanding the implementation of the 2017 return-to-work formula.”
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2019/02 ... t_c1894290

There is something very wrong in Kenya’s health sector. All health professionals (nurses, doctors, clinical officers etc) need to come together and discuss the way forward.

For instance, it is said that there are unemployed doctors in Kenya. What does their union leaders propose as the solution to this problem, considering that all counties are understaffed, yet there are unemployed doctors?

Many nurses seem not to have job security. How can such an important professional work without job security? What is their union doing about this?

Have they tried lobbying politicians? What about their leaders appearing in the media to highlight their issues so Kenyans understand what is going on in the health sector?

Whether we like it or not, politicians will need to be involved to solve the crisis in Kenya’s health sector.

If medical professionals in Kenya don’t join hands, and propose a pragmatic way forward, they will continue complaining, striking every month, and eventually, they will lose the support of Kenyans.

Unfortunately, if it comes to this, everyone will lose.

About Salaries in Kenya Public Sector, including teachers, doctors, engineers, nurses etc:

Strikes over salaries in Kenya will never end until an equitable salary plan is agreed, drafted into law, and implemented across the board. And when it comes to salary increase, it would be done across the board for all government workers including secretaries, doctors, drivers, teachers etc(by law).

That would end salary-related strikes for good(unless all govt workers decide to strike!).

Another problem is the abnormal discrepancies between payment scales in various grades. For instance, a person might be earning a gross monthly income of KES 50K in grade X. While the person in the immediate next grade Y earns KES 70K gross.

Result: Instead of concentrating on work, everyone is studying some useless course so they can move up to the next grade.

simon makode
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:10 am

Crisis in Kenya Health Sector

Post by simon makode » Thu Mar 28, 2019 7:27 am

“Doctors have petitioned MPs to transfer health functions back to the national government…they asked MPs to create a National Health Service Commission(HSC) to hire, deploy and handle the remuneration of all health workers…

“The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union(KMPDU) made the proposal before the National Assembly Committee on Health at Parliament Buildings.

“The proposal was supported by the nurses' and clinical officers' unions, whose representatives attended the meeting.”
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2019-03 ... y-doctors/

It is good now that medical professionals are joining hands and presenting their proposals to parliament.

I support their request for health to revert back to the central government. Nurses, doctors and other health professionals have been complaining about unemployment, inadequate facilities and mistreatment. Currently, Central government cannot do anything about it; they cannot order county governments to hire them or treat them better because health is devolved to the counties.

County bosses plus MCAs will oppose these recommended changes, but Kenyans only want an efficient health system. If medical professionals convince Kenyans and MPs that healthcare will improve if health department is returned to central government, then Kenyans will support that proposal.

dovu
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2019 10:09 am

PSC, Clinical Officers, Lab Techs, Doctors, Pharmacists, Dentists Want Health to Revert to National Govt

Post by dovu » Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:05 am

“The Public Service Commission (PSC) has proposed the reversion of the health function to the national government with the mandate to hire medics vested with the commission.

PSC made the proposal when it presented its memorandum before the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) taskforce which was set to conclude public hearings Friday evening.”

“PSC statement comes a day after various workers’ unions representing medical practitioners said the health sector needs a commission just like their counterparts in the teaching profession.

Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya National Union of Laboratory Technologists, Kenya National Union of Pharmacists and Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union said this will help in addressing various issues the health workers face.”
https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2019/0 ... ws-to-bbi/
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I support this 100%.

NOTE:
1. It would be tragic to force health professionals to work under County Governments if they don’t want to.
2. County Governments are to blame for this situation. They failed to value health professionals.

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