Ministry of Health has stated that it intends to deploy all intern doctors as soon as possible following the recent medical interns demonstrations and camping outside the ministry’s Afya House headquarters.
According to the health cabinet secretary Susan Nakhumicha the interns could not be posted at a monthly stipend of Sh206,400 as per the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) rates citing effects from the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024.
She further highlighted that the Salary and Remuneration Commission’s (SRC) advisory to post interns at a reduced monthly stipend of Shs70,000 has been challenged in court awaiting ruling to be delivered on September 26, 2024.
“Whereas KMPDU preferred that an intern be posted based on the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) rates of Sh206,400 per month, the realities of the fiscal space coupled with the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024 cannot permit this,” said the CS adding that the budget cut from Shs4.8 billion to Shs 3.7 billion due to finance bill withdrawal could not cater for the 3,760 medical interns awaiting posting as per the 2017 CBA.
In relation to the stalemate, the CS hinted that several discussions had been held and that three viable solutions had been presented in a bid to end the impasse.
Nakhumicha outlined the first alternative as to post all interns as per the SRC advisory approved rate of Shs 70,000 monthly stipend rate while the second option was to await the court’s ruling.
The third alternative presented was to post interns in batches as per the CBA rates while discussions are ongoing stating that at least 552 interns would be immediately posted based on funds allocated to the ministry in the 2024/25 budget.
“Despite the foregoing, the Ministry recognizes the loss of time and strongly advises interns across all cadres to report to their internship centers as previously announced while the issue is being resolved,” Nakhumicha said.
Additionally, the CS urged all intern doctors countrywide to report to their respective internship centers while efforts to resolve posting and salary difficulties are addressed.
However, the CS pointed out people who she claimed were taking advantage of the ‘occupy MOH’ protests to bring forth a picture of neglect and incompetence to the Ministry.
“It is regrettable that despite the open and candid discussions with the union officials and representatives of the interns, a few individuals are attempting to use the demonstrations and assembly as an opportunity to paint an image of inaction, neglect, and incompetence against the Ministry of Health, hoping that this will propagate a feeling of hopelessness and incite chaos among the wider population,” noted Nakhumicha.
Finally, CS Nakhumicha affirmed Kenyans that negotiations between the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the MoH would address the issues at hand and put an end to the current deadlock.
