Kwale, Taita Taveta, Kirinyaga and Laikipia counties, have received a stern warning against recalling and harassing doctors on study leave deployed in National Teaching and referral hospitals.
According to Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacist and Dentist Union KMPDU acting secretary-general Chibazi Mwachonda, there has been protracted labor disputes in the four counties thus crippling health activities in the county hospitals and the county authorities had said they were considering recalling the doctors in an attempt to solve the healthcare gaps amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
” We still await the speedy resolution of the protracted labor disputes in Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Kwale and Taita Taveta,” Mwachonda said.
Mwachonda added that the union feared that the four counties would refuse to pay the doctors who would refuse to return to work.
He further called upon the county governments to ensure timely payment of salaries and effects promotions as first priorities in the counties.
Mwachonda however, wants the government to speed up the recruitment exercise of health worker personnel and be concluded within a week considering the strained health care workforce in the country during this COVID-19 pandemic time.
The government had earlier announced 5,000 vacancies to be applied by qualified health persons in order to reinforce current health personnel in the fight against the coronavirus that has so far killed 14 people as per the ministry of health and World Health Organization(WHO)
