Doctors demand review of scheme

Doctors are demanding a review of their scheme of service, last changed in 1992.

Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union Secretary-General Ouma Oluga said doctors had tabled a proposal for more pay and a new scheme of service.

Dr Oluga said the government must begin to develop a scheme that reflects the current workload, working hours and skills.

“No more time should be wasted in improving labour practices and pay for health workers,” he told the Nation by phone.

“The least paid doctor earns a basic salary of Sh35,000, with a house allowance of Sh10,000, commuter allowance of Sh6,000 and hardship allowance of Sh600. Promotion has stagnated for more than three years,” he added.

A letter and a payslip seen by the Nation showed that a junior doctor in the Rift Valley was getting twice the salary of his colleagues elsewhere, with a monthly house allowance of Sh40,000, Sh12,000 commuter allowance, Sh30,000 emergency allowance, Sh30,000 extraneous allowance, Sh46,000 non-practising allowance and Sh10,00 leave allowance.

His colleagues in other parts of the country are getting Sh19,000 non-practising allowance, Sh6,000 leave allowance, Sh30,000 emergency call allowance and Sh35,000 health workers extraneous allowance.

Last week, governors, 12 health executives, unions and other stakeholders held closed-door meetings in Nairobi to deliberate on the plight of health workers.

Council of Governors human resources boss James Ongwae and Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi met union officials at Delta House, the council offices.

Later, the executives met the union officials, representatives from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, and the Council of Governors represented by health consultants, the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Health.

A source at the meeting said it was agreed that promotions be effected in a month. The source said the revelation that over 700 doctors had been rejected by governors because of their ethnic background had angered the government.

Council of Governors Chairman Peter Munya defended counties over claims that they were not paying or promoting doctors as required.

Dr Oluga said the meetings discussed improving labour practices and remuneration.

The union has sued the Health Ministry, the SRC and the Ministry of Labour over failure to implement a collective bargaining agreement.

The union also urged the President to reward the 170 workers who volunteered to fly to West Africa to fight the Ebola outbreak.