Doctors pull out of talks over court summons

Doctors pull out of talks over court summons

Talks between the Ministry of Health and the doctors’ union, Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU), aimed at ending the medics’ strike have collapsed  again after union leaders pulled out demanding revocation of  Labour Court’s ruling summoning them for defying its order.

On Wednesday, the KMPDU Chairman, Samuel Oroko, said there will be no dialogue between the doctors union and the government until the court order is lifted.

This comes just hours after the Employment and Labour Relations Court directed the doctors union officials to appear in court next Tuesday to show cause why they should not be committed to civil jail for disobeying court orders.

In a certificate of urgency, the Council of Governors argued that the medical practitioners have proceeded to go on an unlawful and unprotected strike, gravely affecting the health and well being of patients.

“Unless the unlawful strike is stopped by this court there will be irreparable harm to the people who are in need of Medicare,” read the court documents.

The petitioners asked the court to commit the officials to civil jail for 6 months.

As the doctors’ representatives pulled out of the negotiations, the nurses’ union officials were still in a closed-door meeting with the Ministry of Health officials at Afya House over their demands for the implementation of the 2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

On Tuesday, both the doctors and nurses union officials vowed to go on with their strike until the CBA in 2013 is implemented.

The Kenya National Union of Nurses had boycotted the ministry’s call for dialogue demanding that Health CS Cleopa Mailu and his PS Nicholas Muraguri be kicked out from the talks team after claiming that the body never signed recognition agreement with counties.

Speaking to the press, the nurses union also faulted the Salaries and Remuneration Commission for failing on its mandate vowing not to accept proposals made by the commission.

On Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta broke his silence on the strike calling on health workers to focus on dialogue with Health ministry and governors over their demands.

Tags:

CBA KMPDU Contempt Of Court doctors strike talks collapse Health CS Cleopa Mailu stalemate 2013 Collective Bargaining agreement Samuel Oroko court order is lifted

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