Following the official start of Thursday's countrywide doctors' strike, medical services in numerous public health facilities were rendered inoperable.
Spot checks by the media at several facilities revealed that some patients needing special care were turned away, and others were compelled to go to private hospitals for their care.
Though some facilities continued to provide services despite the industrial action, it started slowly. They hope that representatives from the Ministry of Health and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists' Union (KMPDU) will soon reach an agreement regarding the complaints brought forth by the medical professionals.
Many patients who required specialized care at Kakamega County General Teaching and Referral Hospital were turned away.
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"Nilikuwa nimebookiwa leo clinic ya orthopedics kwa sababu nilifanyiwa surgery so kufika leo naambiwa madaktari wamegoma," stated Fredrick Goli, one of them.
In Nakuru County, where roughly 160 doctors joined their colleagues in the nationwide strike, patients faced a protracted and hopeless wait.
According to Health CEC Dr. Andrew Wamalwa, only 11 of the 37 doctors at the Bungoma County Referral Hospital and 3 of the 25 doctors at the Webuye County Hospital in Bungoma County reported for duty.
Patients at Nyeri level 5 hospitals reported that they had been asked to return later, while others confirmed that they had received treatment.
Since then, all on-call doctors have received orders from the county government to report to work.
The industrial action started slowly in other public facilities, such as Mbagathi County Referral Hospital, where patients were still receiving medical care.
Employees at Nairobi's Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) were instructed to report to their workstations via communication.
According to the internal communication, the hospital had obtained a court-issued stay order that prevented the medics from participating in the strike. This was done to help the parties involved reach a consensus on a number of issues, including the minimum safety services that would be supplied in the event of a strike.
Dr. Martin Wafula, CEO of Mama Lucy Hospital, attested that hundreds of patients who had come in for care were taken care of.
As usual, Nurses and clinical officers cared for patients at the Kisumu County Referral Hospital's prenatal and outpatient departments.
Kisumu resident Albesta Godmeasaid: “Tangu jana iko tofauti...wamekuwa kidogo but hao kidogo wenye wanakuja hapa wanatreat watu vizuri.”
Dr. Tom Nyamwara, a medical superintendent at the facility, noted: "We're expected to be on duty by the county government of Kisumu so we do not intend to disrupt services...we have staff on duty and if you walk around you will be able to meet our colleagues, the nurses, patients, and the doctors."
The doctors are bringing grievances against the Ministry of Health, led by Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha, alleging that they have not followed through on their promises to post medical interns, pay postgraduate medical students, or implement the salary increase that was agreed upon in the 2017 CBA, among other things.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court has granted a stay on the KMPDU strike notice to give time for a solution to be found.
Dr. Aggrey Orwenyo, KMDU Nyanza Secretary General, said: "Wanachama wetu Kisii county ni 189, nimepita ata hospitali zote hakuna kazi inaendelea...wale wako si madaktari...tuko na issues na redesignation, promotion and arbitrary transfers."
Kisii Health CECM Ronald Nyakweba however reduted this statement saying: “Hakika shughuli zetu katika hospitali zetu ni kama kawaida, hapa Kisii hatujaona kama kuna shida...madaktari wetu wamekuwa wakija kazi, ni wachache tu ambao hawakuja.”
