Kenyan Doctors to Strike as Unpaid Salaries Spark Healthcare Crisis
KMPDU announces a strike after the tragic death of Dr. Francis Njuki, exposing unpaid salaries and unsafe working conditions. Will Kenya's healthcare sector collapse?
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has announced plans for intern doctors to strike following the tragic death of Dr. Francis Njuki, a pharmacist at Thika Level 5 Hospital. His death, suspected to be a suicide, is the second such case within two months, following the passing of Dr. Desree Moraa under similar circumstances.
KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah criticized the Kenyan government for failing to honor the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which promised improved working conditions and timely salaries for medical interns. Dr. Njuki had reportedly not received any salary since August, reflecting a broader issue of unpaid and underpaid healthcare workers, which the union attributes to systemic failures in the healthcare sector.
The union warned that unless immediate reforms are made to address unsafe working conditions, including timely payment and better mental health support for healthcare workers, a nationwide disruption of medical services could follow. They are demanding action from the government, emphasizing that the ongoing neglect endangers both healthcare workers and the public.
Read More:
What's Your Reaction?
