Duale warns medical schools prioritising ‘commercial interests’ over professionalism

The perennial posting of intern doctors, a longstanding issue pitting the Ministry of Health against the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), was the main cause of the strike that lasted nearly two months last year.

While attending the KMPDU annual delegates' conference in Mombasa, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the crisis was occasioned by unregulated medical training institutions admitting far more students than approved.

“We can't have 2,000 students one year and 3,000 another. We will not allow people to turn this noble, dignified profession into a place where they can make some money,” said the CS.

According to Duale, the institutions must be regulated in order to achieve quality training and posting of interns based on the government's budget.

“We will regulate the facilities; we will find whether you have all the facilities to train a medical doctor, and what your capacity is. I am already aware of training institutions that were given by the council 50 students and they admitted 200 because of commercial interests,” the minister said.

The CS says the ministry is working towards ensuring that all healthcare workers and civil servants access healthcare through the Social Health Authority (SHA) without interruption or delays.

“SHA contribution not only for healthcare workers but all civil servants will be deducted from source,” said Duale.

KMPDU’s Davji Attellah added: “NEC declared and approved strikes in 18 counties that I was to mention today but because I have to honour your presence and the presence of the governor, we will postpone releasing of strike for two weeks.”

Duale said 1,035 medical officer interns and 83 dental officer interns who were successfully balloted for internship placements last week, together with 503 pharmacist interns, will begin their rotations in July 2025.