Kibaki urges dialogue to end health workers' strike

President Kibaki has urged health workers to embrace dialogue in a bid to end the biting strike that has affected public hospitals March 13, 2012. FILE

President Kibaki has urged health workers to embrace dialogue in a bid to end the biting strike that has affected public hospitals.

The President said the strike has resulted in the suffering of patients and amicable solutions should be sought in addressing industrial disputes.

"Let us always resort to constructive dialogue whenever there are disagreements and not take actions that will result to the suffering of the patients,” President Kibaki said when he when officially opened the Mission for Essential Drugs and Supply (MEDS) Centre in Kathiani constituency, Machakos Tuesday.

President Kibaki said government remains committed to remunerating the health workers within its economic ability.

He affirmed that the government has continued to give priority to the provision of healthcare services in the country.

“We appreciate that every Kenyan has the right to the highest attainable standards of health, which include the right to healthcare services, as entrenched in our Constitution and Vision 2030,” the President said.

The Head of State said the government recognises that the good health of Kenyans is a necessary condition for the economic and social development of the nation.

He pointed out that the health sector receives one of the largest allocations of the national budget, saying the budget of the Ministry of Health and related ministries has more than doubled from Sh20billion in 2003 to about Sh60 billion currently.

Said President Kibaki: “We have undertaken major construction and rehabilitation works of hospitals and increased the number of health facilities from 4,500 in 2003 to more than 6,000 in 2011.”

The President disclosed that more than 100 health centres have also been upgraded to sub district hospitals, the number of registered doctors has increased from 4,800 in 2003 to 7,120 by 2010 while remarkable progress has been made in the provision of drugs and equipment to hospitals.
President Kibaki, however, noted that in spite of these efforts it is clear that the Government cannot, on its own, meet all the health needs of the population which has continued to grow over the years.

“Moreover, the cost of healthcare has gone up, meaning that our resources are not adequate to meet the healthcare needs of all Kenyans,” President Kibaki said.

He acknowledged the contribution that MEDS has continued to make in the delivery of healthcare services to Kenyans particularly in improving access to essential medicines and supplies as well as training of health workers.

President Kibaki also encouraged more faith-based organisations as well as private sector investors to partner with the Government in providing health services.

“This will help improve quality, access, affordability and sustainability of health services to Kenyans,” President Kibaki said.
Vice-President Kalonzo noted that with the creation of conducive climate for investment the Church and other stakeholders could significantly supplement government efforts in accelerating development in the country especially the realization of the Vision 2030.

Medical Services minister Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o thanked the MEDS for making such a huge investment to the people of Kenya and supplementing government efforts geared towards making available quality medical supplies to Kenyans.

Prof Nyong’o enumerated measures that his ministry had instituted to eradicate counterfeit drugs among them closely working with security organs, increasing surveillance at border posts as well as involving the Kenya Bureau of Standards to ensure only quality drugs are dispensed to patients.

Others who spoke during the occasion included Kathiani MP and Assistant Minister for Youth Affairs Wavinya Ndeti, the Chairman Kenya Episcopal Conference John Cardinal Njue, Chairman, MEDS Board of Trustees and the Managing Director MEDS, Pascal Manyuru.