Doctors risk being sacked for failing to call off strike

The government has threatened to institute disciplinary action against striking doctors if fail to resume duties by Wednesday, January 11 saying that it has given them a reasonable offer.

In a press briefing at Council of Governors headquarters in Nairobi, the governors, through their Chairman Peter Munya, and Health Cabinet Secretary, Dr Cleopa Mailu, however, did not specify the disciplinary measures to take against non-compliant doctors but signaled a possibility of sacking them and advertising for their positions.

“We need suffering of Kenyans to end and that is why we have taken this stand,” said Munya.

Munya said that the 2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) the doctors are pushing to have it implemented was null and void since the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and county governments were omitted in its making.

“You cannot call people for negotiations then they keep saying CBA. This CBA is o’t in accordance with the law. Even courts have said that,” added Munya.

CS Mailu reiterated government’s willingness to negotiate for an all-inclusive implementable CBA with the doctors’ union – the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) – but lamented the doctors insistence on the current CBA and snubbing planned dialogue meetings.

“We are willing to deliver full CBA within 60-90 days but in absence of negotiations following doctors refusal is making it hard,” said the Health CS.

Mailu implored the doctors to take the 40% salary increment offer assuring them that there will be no victimisation.

The governors also scrapped central posting of doctors in favour of individual counties hiring their medics.

Munya said that the county governments will be stringent on doctors’ Code of Conduct and Regulations noting that some them have been absconding duties for even up to six months and still get paid.

“Some of the doctors are working but others want to keep moving from one county to the other. If you are employed to work, you must work,” added Munya.

The governors indicated that the inter-governmental committee will meet starting Tuesday, January 10, to develop a module that would ensure proper management of health services across counties, to eliminate constant industrial actions.