Doctors: We are still on strike

Doctors from Coast General Hospital, Mombasa after attending a closed-door meeting December 13, 2011. They said the strike is still on since they were not involved in the negotiations as delegates. LABAN WALLOGA

Doctors have vowed to continue their strike action after what they termed failed negotiations with government.

Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) secretary general Boniface Chitayi said Tuesday that part of their demands had not been honoured and the strike was still on.

“Some of demands like that touching on registrars has still not been addressed," he said.

The union said the taskforce set up to address the matter was an inadequate intervention.

"Based on lessons learnt from the history of taskforces in this country, we reject the government offer until it addresses the issue of the registrar and the public stake,” said Dr Victor N’gani, an official.

The need to invest in healthcare in public hospitals is not offered, he said.

The doctors vowed to continue with the strike until "an acceptable offer that takes care of the public and registrar is mentioned".

“We reiterate that the strike is more than just addressing the pay,” the union officials said adding demands on improving the standards of healthcare should be equally addressed.

On Monday, a deal was arrived at in a closed-door meeting chaired by Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta. Also in attendance were Ministry of Health officials.

However KMPDU officials said the decision to call off the strike was hurried and did not represent the true position.

KMPPDU is unrelenting on its demand for a 300 per cent pay rise, a 30 per cent risk allowance and a medical insurance cover.

Also included is a commitment to improve the state of public health facilities countrywide.

Kenyatta National Hospital has scaled down services, with only the critical areas functioning like paediatric emergency, Critical Care Unit, Burns Unit, Accident & Emergency and Maternal Health Care.

During the Jamhuri Day celebrations on Monday President Kibaki directed Public Service minister Dalmas Otieno to find a solution to the strike, which has disrupted services at public hospitals countrywide.

He asked Mr Otieno to work "with all those involved" in finding a solution to the strike.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga also urged the striking doctors and pharmacists to return to work.

The strike has paralysed health care throughout the country with the most affected being provincial and district hospitals.