By Lauryne Akoth
The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists” Union (KMPDU) has issued a statement asserting that doctors shall not yield to intimidation and threats to resume work.
In a statement dated 1st April 2024, the Union’s Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah accused the Ministry of Health, various county governments, and the management of National referral hospitals of using threats and intimidation strategies to call off the ongoing doctors’ strike.
“The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) condemns in the strongest terms the recent threats issued by various county governors, management of national referral hospitals, and Ministry of Health demanding doctors to return to work under duress,” read the statement in part.
He criticized the three for resorting to intimidation and threats instead of addressing concerns raised by doctors. ” We want to make it clear that doctors will not be intimidated or coerced back to work until all the concerns raised in our strike notice are fully resolved.” He affirmed.
He encouraged doctors’ employers to refrain from engaging in trivial politics and instead prioritize addressing the concerns raised to ensure the well-being of health workers.
The union listed 11 concerns that they would like employers to address including the settlement of basic salary arrears owed to doctors stretching to seven years and the posting of medical interns as per the CBA agreement.
The union called upon the government to prioritize the health and well-being of numerous patients in public facilities who are currently unable to receive care by engaging in sincere and constructive dialogue with the union to promptly address the issues that led to the strike, rather than resorting to mere theatrics and political maneuvers.