Intern pay, working conditions: Inside CBA agreement at the heart of doctors' strike

The nationwide doctors' strike is set to enter its fourth week on Tuesday and health workers have vowed to not relent until their demands are fully met.

At the heart of the contention is the demand to implement the posting of medical interns - with the right pay- and also honouring the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Health workers, led by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), have said that they will not resume work until the government takes the appropriate action.

They have even turned down a Ksh.2.4 billion offer from the government which was set to iron out the scuffle.

President William Ruto then waded into the muddle as he stated that the government would not meet the demands, noting that they are not feasible since the country is struggling with a huge wage bill.

Citizen Digital looks into the contentious agreement that was reached between the KMPDU and the government through the Ministry of Health (MoH).

The agreement which took effect on July 1, 2017, was created to regulate relations between the two parties in the interest of promoting the economic well-being of health workers and improve the service delivery of healthcare in the public sector.

A 7-member committee was therefore formed which comprised of four representatives from the MoH and three from KMPDU.

It was agreed that the committee shall meet once every six months or whenever there is a need to monitor the process of the CBA's implementation.

They also agreed that in the event the committee fails to resolve the execution of the agreement, the matter would be escalated to the Ministry of Labour.

The two parties agreed that there shall be a definite employee classification for doctors starting with job group 'M' as the entry level.

"Progression shall follow provision under the prevailing scheme of service of medical, pharmacists and dental officers," reads part of the document.

They further agreed that MoH shall place medical officers in their appropriate job groups and they shall be promoted based on merit and without favour.

It was also agreed that doctors who require additional training prior to any promotion shall be facilitated and sponsored except a Masters Programme.

For the transfer and posting of doctors, they agreed that it can only be done by relevant posting committees.

"A doctor shall not be transferred at the initiative of the employer (MoH) more than once within a period of two years unless under mutually acceptable circumstances," reads the CBA.

Any transferred doctor would also be paid a transfer allowance to cater for necessary costs.

All employees were also to take at least one short course a year for a period of 5 years with emphasis on life support courses.

It was agreed that the ministry would avail a training budget set at a minimum of 2% of its recurrent budget.

The agreement also directed that all trainees who will be eligible after trainees will acquire sponsorship to postgraduate training.

The trainees would also received their salaries, allowances and other benefits as per the agreed terms and conditions since they are considered to be on duty.

The agreement dictates that all interns with clearance from the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (MPD) and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) will be posted to available internship centers.

They would also be allowed to choose their placement of choice taking into account the available positions per station.

It was further agreed that interns would receive a salary equivalent to that of a civil worker in job group 'L' and shall also enjoy house, leave and commuter allowances while working 40 hours a week.

"The remuneration of intern doctors shall be reviewed from time to time as per remuneration of civil servants and other doctors," reads the CBA in part.

They agreed that all health facilities would have a doctors' lounger equipped with a computer, lounge sets and a television set.

There would also be call rooms in every facility equipped with clean beds for rest when on call at night.

Doctors who work on public holidays would also receive paid days off as per the days worked.

It was further agreed that the union shall be granted freedom to express its grievances and if there is an alteration of the agreed terms, it shall table its claims through its Secretary General.