Govt to employ 2,000 doctors, says minister

The government is moving ahead with plans to employ 2,000 doctors and a similar number of clinicians to replace those on strike.

This means that striking medics have been sacked, just two days after their salaries were stopped.

On Wednesday, Medical Services minister Anyang' Nyong'o said the vacancies will be published in newspapers either Thursday or Friday, as the crisis in the health sector continues.

"We are going to replace the striking doctors. We are in the process of employing 1,000 doctors and 1,000 clinical officers,” said the minister at a news conference at his Afya House offices.

Even as he took the hard-line stance, Prof Nyong’o said the window was still open for those willing to resume duty saying the tough disciplinary measures unleashed on them would be relaxed.

"The Ministry is encouraging those willing to resume duty to do so and the disciplinary measures will be terminated,” he said.

But he insisted that there was no budget allocation to meet the payment of the Sh92,000 monthly stipend demanded by self-sponsored registrars.

“The Ministry has stated clearly that it has no budget to pay self-sponsored registrars.”

Prof Nyong’o, who was accompanied by his top ministry officials, said the court had granted orders prohibiting the doctors from continuing with the strike.

Stagnate in one position

Among others issues, the doctors' union says the return-to-work agreement had proposed recruitment of 200 more doctors, payment of fees for the doctors undergoing specialist training and promotion of doctors who had stagnated in one position for long.

“The State Law Office wrote to the Registrar of the Court on Tuesday seeking a date for the court proceedings to begin,” said Prof Nyong’o.

“This time round let’s give the court time to listen and make a decision on this matter and not arm twist the government to make unlawful decisions.

“My Ministry is open to dialogue which is going on under the auspices of the industrial court.”

And he warned that if the union continues with the strike, the government will have no option but to ask for contempt of court.

Prof Nyong’o said consultants were on duty and not on strike as had been alleged by the doctors' union.

“Our health facilities are now well managed by 2,000 doctors, nurses, clinical officers and consultants,” he said.

“Even doctors who are in administration are spending less hours in administration and are now taking more hours attending to sick Kenyans in hospitals."