Govt to recruit foreign doctors to replace striking medics

The government is exploring possibilities of recruiting foreign doctors to restore health services in public hospitals.

Speaking during a joint media conference at the National Treasury, Health Cabinet Secretary, Cleopa Mailu, assured Kenyans that the government is exploring all the possibilities at their disposal to restore medical services.

Mailu, who was accompanied by Treasury CS, Henry Rotich, and Public Service Commission (PSC) chair, Prof Margaret Kobia, expressed disappointment in the doctors’ union for rejecting the government’s offer.

The leaders, who maintained that the government is open to dialogue, accused the doctors of bad faith for maintaining a hardliner stance on the full implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2013.

As the strike enters 33 days, Mailu and Rotich said that the government will start another round of talks on Monday with the doctors and the Council of Governors.

This comes after the doctors rejected the 40% pay rise offered to them by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday to call off the strike .

Meanwhile, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Secretary General, Dr Ouma Oluga, and other union officials insist that they will only return to work if the government implements the 2013 CBA in full.

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KMPDU doctors strike National Treasury CS Henry Rotich Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu full implementation of the Collective bargaining agreement signed in 2013 Kenya Medical Pharmacists and Dentists Union Secretary General Ouma Oluga

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