Court to decide fate of Cuban doctors
Director of Medical Services Jackson Kioko speaks during a Guinea Worm certification event at Panafric Hotel on May 17, 2018. He has defended the importation of Cuban doctors. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- A Kenyan doctor has filed a case seeking to stop the licensing of the Cuban doctors to practise in the country.
- Jackson Kioko said that the shortage of medical specialists was the main reason the government had opted to recruit doctors from Cuba.
The decision on whether the Cuban doctors will be deployed to local hospitals now lies with the courts.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court on Wednesday temporarily barred them from beginning work until a judgment on the case challenging the legality of their contracts with the government is delivered on June 19.
Justice Onesmus Makau issued the directive, saying that since no evidence had been placed before the court showing that the doctors have reported on duty earlier than June 19, then the status quo should remain pending the judgment of the case on that date.
“In my view, it is fair that when the court is writing its decision, the parties should also agree to hold their horses,” Justice Makau said.
SPECIALISTS
A Kenyan doctor has filed a case seeking to stop the licensing of the Cuban doctors to practise in the country.
Dr Samson Robert Misango argues that there is no evidence that the country lacks doctors to fill vacancies in the public health system.
He has sued the Health Cabinet Secretary, the Council of Governors, Director of Immigration and the Attorney-General.
Dr Misango is challenging an agreement reached between the national government, the 47 county governments and the Cuban Government to bring in the specialists.
WORK PERMITS
He has accused the government of lying to the world that Kenya has a shortage of specialised medical practitioners, “yet it has many qualified doctors who are jobless”.
He wants the court to bar the Immigration Department from issuing the specialists with work permits.
A similar case was filed by three unemployed doctors: Samwel Nduati, Reuel Maina and Francis Thuku.
They argued that the sued parties were obliged to consider the availability of skilled Kenyans first before going for foreigners.
SHORTAGE
However, Director of Medical Services Jackson Kioko justified the State’s decision to bring in the foreign specialists.
In his response to the case, he pointed out that the shortage of medical specialists was the main reason the government had opted to recruit doctors from Cuba.
He told the court that the 100 specialists had been carefully scrutinised to ascertain their professional qualifications.
