A doctor’s union has protested against a decision by governors not to employ doctors directly, saying the move will kill the country’s dream of achieving universal healthcare.
Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) said the move will widen the doctor-patient ratio and undermine the universal healthcare goal.
Secretary general Dr Ouma Oluga said currently there are 2,500 unemployed doctors who may be practicing privately without going through apprenticeship and hence compromising the quality of healthcare.
Huge shortage
He said it was illogical and insensitive for some governors to pretend to manage healthcare on the basis of one doctor per facility saying that will deny people quality health services.
Speaking during the union annual delegates’ conference in Mombasa, Dr Oluga said they have engaged Parliament, Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors (CoG) over the state of unemployed doctors in the country amid a huge shortage in hospitals.
“We have 2,500 unemployed doctors available and ready to work in any county but the governors have refused to employ them directly even in the face of a huge shortage. Parliament is discussing a report and most MPs support it,” Dr Oluga said.
Universal healthcare
Oluga said many doctors have either retired or died since health services were handed over to counties but there has been no replacement leading to a crisis in hospitals.
He was flanked by officials Samuel Oroko, Daisy Korir, Evelyne Chege, Allan Ochanji, Mwachonda Chibandzi and Titus Ondoro among others.
He said currently the ratio of doctor to patient has exceeded one to 16,000 contending that universal healthcare will continue to remain a pipe dream. -KNA
