Health CS Susan Nakhumicha has directed posted medical interns to report to assigned health centers as stakeholders try to resolve the issues surrounding their salaries.

The CS noted that the funding given to the Ministry of Health (Ksh.3.7 billion) in the 2024/25 budget will not be sufficient to support the posting of 3,760 interns, which will cost Ksh.4.8 billion.

PHOTO | COURTESY Health CS Wafula Nakhumicha

She listed the three options on the table in the ongoing discussions with the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU), which include either posting all doctors at the recommended monthly rate of Ksh.70,000 proposed by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) or using the funds allocated in the budget to post at least 552 interns on a monthly rate of Ksh.206,400 monthly as per the CBA.

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The third alternative is to await judicial instruction, since the SRC's suggestion to propose a monthly stipend of Ksh.70,000 for interns was challenged in the Employment and Labour Relations judicial. The judgment will be issued on September 26, 2024.

PHOTO | COURTESY Doctors protest

"The above notwithstanding the Ministry recognises the loss in time and highly recommends the interns across the cadres to report to their internship centres as communicated earlier pending the resolution of the package," part of the statement stated.

CS Nakhumicha also addressed the #OccupyMOH protest, which demanded her resignation, saying the move was politically motivated.