Clinical officers accuse government of being evasive as nationwide strike begins

KUCO Secretary General George Gibore said the state has gone mute on addressing their concerns among them alleged discrimination by the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the refusal to impanel facilities owned by clinical officers.

Highlighting the plight of the dire situation in the sector, Gibore added that the union has held over 100 strikes since the onset of devolution and none has bore fruit.

"We are being subdued as clinical officers to things that are not lawful and that is why we are saying we are not willing to take that," he told the press.

On her part, KUCO National Treasurer Mary Boniface accused the state of being non-committal, adding that many patients are at the risk of being denied health services under SHA.

"We've had meetings with the former SHA chairman, we have even done petitions including to the presidency but we've not received any response and we feel they are not committed to solve this issue," she noted.

Clinical officers issued a 14-day strike notice on January 7 for being locked out of the recently rolled-out SHA and a breach of last year’s return-to-work agreement.

They said MoH and county governments breached the return-to-work agreement they signed last year as the union called off their 99-day strike.

The agreement comprised a collective bargaining agreement, promotions, comprehensive medical cover and the confirmation of universal health coverage (UHC) clinical officers and those in short-term contractual employment into permanent and pensionable employment terms.

CEO Gibore further stated that barring clinical officers from offering services through SHA is discriminatory.

“This discrimination and exclusion has been occasioned by the blatant, illegal and illogical refusal by Social Health Authority to recognise the facilities and practitioners registered and licensed by Clinical Officers Council,” Gibore noted.

The officers now demand immediate and unconditional recognition and empanelment of health providers and practitioners licensed by the Clinical Officers Council.

They also want the SHA board to immediately reinstate pre-authorisation rights to Clinical Officers, including specialists, and full implementation of the return-to-work agreement by January 19, failure to which they will down their tools.