Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has issued a stern warning to doctors taking part in the ongoing strike organized by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU). Nakhumicha emphasized that doctors must end the strike immediately or face the risk of being terminated from their positions.
In a recent interview on KTN News, Nakhumicha revealed that she had directed Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) to initiate the recruitment of new doctors to ensure the continuity of healthcare services. She highlighted that KNH alone has more than 400 doctors ready for employment, waiting in their database. Nakhumicha emphasized the urgency of maintaining essential medical services, especially in critical areas like intensive care units (ICUs).
“We cannot afford to allow a crisis to persist in the health sector, especially when we have nearly 3,000 qualified doctors who are currently unemployed,” Nakhumicha stated firmly during the interview. She assured the public that measures were being put in place to guarantee uninterrupted healthcare services across the country.
Susan Nakhumicha also referenced a court order directing KMPDU to halt the strike, indicating that failure to comply with this order would have consequences. “If doctors neglect their duties during this critical period, we have alternative healthcare professionals ready to step in. Choices have consequences,” she reiterated.
The Health CS’s comments come in the midst of ongoing negotiations between KMPDU and the government, which have so far failed to reach a resolution. Despite the challenges, Nakhumicha remains committed to ensuring that patients receive the care they need and that the healthcare system remains operational amid the strike action.
The recruitment of additional doctors is seen as a strategic move to mitigate the impact of the strike and maintain essential medical services for the public.
