Court declines to stop importation of Cuban doctors

The High Court has declined to give orders restraining the government from licensing Cuban doctors to practice in Kenyan clinics.

Employment and Labour Relations court judge Byrum Ongayo on Tuesday said the case should be mentioned on May 31 this year to consolidate it with another matter before same court seeking the same orders.

In the case, Dr. Samson Misango claims there was no public participation, adding that the foreign medics were single sourced to the disadvantage of local counterparts.

Similarly, he claims there has been no evidence that Kenya has a shortage of doctors to fill any vacancies in the public health system.

The Ministry of Health has yet to advertise any such vacancies, making their existence questionable.

The Cuban doctors were scheduled to arrive in Kenya on Monday, May 28 but will now jet into the country next week, June 5, according to the Ministry of Health.

The arrival of the 100 Cuban doctors has been met with hostility and criticism from Kenyans as well as medical stakeholders who argue that there are enough health professionals who can handle the demands locally.

According to Health CS Sicily Kariuki, the doctors will end shortage of specialised medical professionals in the country and will not take up any positions intended for Kenyan graduates.