KPMDU welcomes President Kenyatta’s pay stand

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KPMDU) has welcomed the directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta to pay medics their withheld salaries and allowances for the 100 days they were on strike.

Speaking in Nyeri, KPMDU Secretary General, Ouma Oluga, said they hope the President’s directive will be honoured by all players and employers of doctors in public sector to ensure that medical services in public facilities are not paralyzed.

Oluga appealed to the health sector to allocate more funds to equip and supply hospitals with essential equipment such as gloves that are beneficial to patients to ensure there is smooth flow of services.

On her part, Central Kenya Branch Secretary, Dr Gor Kumar, thanked the President for ending the stalemate that had emerged between governors and doctors after they vowed that they would not pay the medics for the time they were on strike.

They also advised doctors in the country and members of the public to keep calm noting that services in all hospitals will remain uninterrupted.

The doctors’ 100-day strike ended on March 14 after a series of negotiations and signing of the return to work formula which stipulated payment and allowances for medics.

Written by Erick Kombo