The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has rejected the government's proposal to post government letters stating that medical interns should be available for pickup on Thursday.
Due to the government's failure to post the interns and the health ministry's disregard for the doctors' 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), doctors have been on strike since March 14.
Felix Koskei, the head of the State House's public service and chief of staff, offered Ksh. 2.4 billion on Tuesday for the posting of all qualified medical interns. Those who qualified were invited to pick up letters on Thursday.
The doctors' union, however, claims that there were no unambiguous, legally binding decisions on how physicians should return to work and that it was not a party to the negotiations that resulted in the advance.
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"Our absence on the negotiating table despite furtive efforts to address the pertinent and perennial problems that have plagued our nation's health discredits the entire process. Additionally, the omission of a return-to-work formula with documented and legally binding commitment to the resolutions of our official submission is not only questionable but also a clear sign of the government's decision to dishonour its promises," KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah said in a letter on Wednesday.
He says internship letters will not be given to medical interns once the 2017 CBA is implemented and the doctors' demands are satisfied.
"Referring to them as 'medical student interns' is misleading to the public, and belies the pivotal role these illustrious employees perform in the health sector. Contravening the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and subjecting our healthcare workers to a 70-91 % pay cut is unlawful, punitive, and a gross violation of the global, regional, and national labour laws," Atellah added.
"Until our demands are met, and the 2017 CBA implemented, the letters mentioned above will not be picked, and will be treated with the contempt and deference they deserve."
The doctors' union said it is "open to bipartisan talks and negotiations on the health crisis."
In addition, Koskei promised to provide grants and scholarships to qualified medical professionals so they could pursue postgraduate training as part of their Tuesday offer.
Since last month, the nation's public healthcare system has been in disarray due to the ineffectiveness of negotiations between KMPDU and the Health Ministry.
The doctors have accused the government of intimidating them, not following the court's orders, and not changing their position.
Clinical officers joined physicians in downing their instruments on Monday, worsening the crisis in hospitals ranging from Level 2 to Level 5.
