Striking doctors' talks put off

Talks between the striking doctors and the government scheduled to resume Thursday have been postponed to Friday in a sudden development that has left the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) enraged.

The talks stalled Wednesday after KMPDU rejected a new pay offer presented to them.

The negotiations were set to restart Thursday at 10am at the twin Ministries of Health headquarters at Afya House, Nairobi then pushed to noon. Eventually, the doctors were told to come back Friday.

Speaking to nation.co.ke, KMPDU Secretary General Boniface Chitayi said the Ministry has not given any reason for the postponement.

“We received a call from the Ministry this morning (Thursday) that the meeting has been put off until tomorrow (Friday) with no reason offered at all though we anticipate they are consulting to come up with an acceptable offer,” he said.

“It means the strike will continue as we wait to meet the government team tomorrow (Friday) hoping for an improved offer,” added Dr Chitayi.

On Wednesday, the government tabled a new wage offer to the 2,300 striking doctors hoping to end the strike. KMPDU has, however, rejected it stating that it had only shortened the period for implementation. READ: (Ministry offers fresh salary package).

In the new offer tabled Wednesday evening, the government increased the amount allocated to doctors’ allowances from Sh1.35 billion to Sh1.9 billion for the first phase and Sh5.2 billion for the second one.

The first phase begins on December 1 and the second one will be implemented in July 2012.

In addition, Medical Services assistant minister Kambi Kazungu announced that the government will allocate Sh80 billion for upgrading existing health facilities and building new ones over a period of 10 years.

Government also approved Sh200 million for training of health workers and another Sh113 million for delayed promotion, this having been agreed two years ago.

Mr Kazungu further announced the release of salaries for the 95 doctors which had been stopped. an additional 607 middle-level health workers and 200 medical officers will also be hired while 2300 who are already on employment will be upgraded.

However, in rejecting the offer KMPDU stated that the proposals fall short of their demands.

“Take for instance the announcement that the government will hire 200 medical officers. This is welcome but too little because over the last year, we have lost 600 doctors. They should have tried to at least match the number,” said Dr Chitayi.

Union officials also trashed the new allowances on the table with Dr Chitayi arguing that it did not vary from the earlier offer.

“There was no new offer in the strict sense of the word except to shorten the period from three phases to two. The net value remains the same Sh7000 to the doctors. There is still a long distance to cover,” he said.

The doctors’ strike began on Monday and has paralysed public healthcare institutions countrywide.

The Union is demanding a 300 per cent pay rise, a 30 per cent risk allowance and a medical insurance cover. It has also asked the government to improve health care facilities by allocating at least 10 per cent of the forthcoming budget to healthcare.

The doctors have further demanded that the government starts a two year plan to construct state-of-the-art public hospitals in every county.

Meanwhile, the government has said it could not afford the demand for pay increases. In addition, Mr Kazungu said only the yet-to-be established Salaries and Remuneration Commission has the mandate to review salaries for public officers.