Doctors issue new strike notice
Kenya medical practitioners, pharmacists and dentists union (KMPDU) secretary general Dr Boniface Chitayi (centre), national Treasurer Dr Wambui Waithaka (right) and chairman Dr Victor Ng'ani during a press conference on November 19, 2011. Photo/PHOEBE OKALL
Doctors on Saturday issued a one week strike notice for failure by the Government to implement a return-to-work formula agreed upon last year when the medical practitioners went on strike.
The doctors through the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union ((KMPDU) said the Government had negated its obligations since the signing of the agreement on December 12, last year.
The agreement ended a week-long strike that paralyzed operations in public hospitals.
“The initial urgency that greeted the drafting of this formula has been replaced with deliberate procrastinations with an aim of derailing implementation of the agreement,” said Mr Boniface Chitayi, the union's Secretary General.
Mr Chitayi said a negotiating team that was to be formed within one week of signing the agreement was yet to be formed six weeks later. The team was to facilitate Collective Bargaining Agreements.
A task force that was formed to look into policy issues among others is yet to release its report.
The task force, which was to start work on December 14, and finish in one week was mandated to prepare terms of references and a report that was to be handed to the Ministers of Medical Services and Public Health and Sanitation.
The Government also agreed to immediately employ 200 doctors but that has failed, said Mr Chitayi.
Remuneration
The Union claims that doctors have not been paid the first instalment of extraneous allowances, which ranges from Sh15,000 and Sh20,000 per month effective December 1, 2011.
According to Mr Chitayi, the Government said it was unable to pay the allowances.
He said officials in the Government argue that some members of the Medical Union such as dentists and pharmacists do not qualify for the new allowances.
“Out of 11 articles outlined in the agreement, only the first has been implemented and that is doctors going back to work,” the Union’s Treasurer Wambui Waithaka said.
Mr Chitayi noted that 400 doctors working with Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret have not been remunerated.
The Cabinet froze salaries increments for civil servants stating that the review of salaries will be handled by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
