Kisumu public hospitals at standstill as doctors’ strike continues

Patients in public health facilities in Kisumu County will spend their Christmas without doctors after talks to end their strike collapsed.

Kenya Medical Practiotioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials and Kisumu Health CEC Prof. Miguda Attyang failed to reach a consensus after over eight hours of meeting.

KMPDU Nyanza Chairman Dr. Kevin Osuri, who led the talks on behalf of the doctors, said the meeting ended in a stalemate and no agreement was reached.

According to Dr. Osuri, the strike will continue until their demands are met, further that the thorny issue of promotions has not been addressed.

“We are telling you that the doctors of Kisumu County will not be on duty, we are on strike. We are asking members of the public to please seek health services in private facilities or move to other neighboring counties,” said the Nyanza KMPDU boss.

He said the county has not promoted senior consultants who are the most affected by the promotion clause and a number of doctors have also not been promoted to the correct job groups as per the return to work formula.

Dr. Osuri also said the county requested for time until February to promote all doctors but the union has been treated to lip service, and will not tolerate it anymore.

He further commended other counties like Kisii and Siaya for promoting all doctors as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), however pouring scorn on the Kisumu County government for not doing the same.