Embu faces crisis as doctors threaten to down tools

Empty beds in Chuka General Hospital's maternity ward in Tharaka-Nithi County following a past health workers' strike over delayed pay. Doctors in public hospitals in Embu County have threatened to down their tools from July 26, 2016, to protest an acute shortage of medical personnel. PHOTO | ALEX NJERU |NATION MEDIA GROUP |

What you need to know:

  • The doctors, pharmacists and dentists in the county said they had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the county government last week on Monday, and no talks had started.
  • According to Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Upper Eastern secretary general Dr Mark Ndung’u, the medics were worried by the continued increase in workload with inadequate medics.

Doctors in public hospitals in Embu County have threatened to down their tools from Wednesday, to protest an acute shortage of medical personnel.

The doctors, pharmacists and dentists in the county said they had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the county government on Monday last week, and no talks had started.

According to Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Upper Eastern secretary-general Mark Ndung’u, the medics were worried about the continuing increase in their workload.

He said the entire county, which has a population of over 600,000, had only 60 doctors, with about 10 of them in management positions, hampering services.

Dr Ndung’u said the county needed at least 96 medical doctors and specialists to bridge the gap. He said Embu Level Five Hospital has been hit hardest hit, with only 19 doctors when it requires at least 50.

He said the county has only one physician, radiologist, psychiatrist, anaesthesiologist and pathologist.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a ratio of one doctor to 1,000 patients.

“There are clear guidelines from the Ministry of Health on how the hospitals should be staffed. Embu County had a population of 543,221 according to 2009 census.

"The county has only hired 12 medical officers and no consultants. Four medical doctors have resigned, eight left for postgraduate studies, 10 transferred to administration and a further eight are expected to leave for studies this year,” he said in an interview.

In a letter to KMPDU national secretary-general Ouma Oluga, Dr Ndung’u also demanded that the county government promote all doctors including consultants and specialists who require suitability interviews.

Dr Ndung’u said that when they complain about working conditions, their salaries are unlawfully stopped and they get arbitrary transfers and unlawful demotions.

He said some promotions have been pending for over five years occasioning frustrations and economic loss for the doctors.

He said they were worried that their workload would increase after the county government embarked on an exercise to expand healthcare facilities.

“This shortage has not stopped Embu County from expanding healthcare facilities. An ICU, a renal unit and two new theatres are expected to be operational at the Embu Level Five Hospital in the next few weeks. The pharmacy at the hospital doesn’t open 24 hours due to a shortage of pharmacists,” said Dr Ndung’u.

Health executive member Pauline Njagi did respond to calls or a text message sent to her requesting the county's views on the matter.