Health CS Deborah Barasa/Pool
The Ministry of Health has announced the release of Sh965 million for the payment of monthly stipends and accrued arrears for various health interns across Kenya. This comes after months of unrest due to delayed payments, which had prompted threats of a strike from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU).
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Health on Saturday, the funds will be distributed to cover both regular payments and outstanding arrears for nursing officers, clinical officers, medical officers, and pharmacist interns. The breakdown of the funds includes Sh528 million allocated for arrears and Sh110 million for regular payments for nursing and clinical officers.
Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa assured that “this 100 percent payment ensures that all posted interns in the specified cadres receive their dues without delay.”
A further Sh326 million has been earmarked for the arrears of medical officers, dental officers, and pharmacist interns.
Interns Affected by Payment Delays
The payment will benefit a total of 3,737 interns across various health fields, including 826 medical officer interns, 274 pharmacists, 71 dentists, 140 degree clinical officers, 1,185 degree nursing officers, and 1,251 diploma clinical officers.
This move comes amid escalating tension within the health sector, with KMPDU directing intern doctors to stay away from their workstations on Wednesday in protest of the ongoing failure to pay their salaries. According to KMPDU Secretary General Devji Atellah, the interns have gone without pay for the past four months, leading to severe financial strain.
Atellah reported that the union had already lost two intern doctors, the most recent being a pharmacist at Thika Level 5 Hospital. He also shared that four others had attempted suicide due to financial pressure but were thankfully rescued and hospitalized.
Potential Strike Looms
In response to the ongoing crisis, doctors are planning to meet at the Safari Park Hotel on November 30 for a National Delegates Conference. The sole agenda for the conference is to decide on a course of action, with a strike remaining a significant possibility.
Atellah stressed that the failure to address the pay issue could lead to a worsening situation for health interns, as many face mounting financial difficulties and a lack of support from the government.
Averting a Crisis
While the government’s payment release is a step toward addressing the interns’ financial challenges, the larger issue of the delayed implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the government and the medical practitioners remains unresolved. As negotiations continue, the health sector anxiously awaits whether this payment will quell further unrest or if more action will be necessary.
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