Governors have rejected the return-to-work formula signed between the Ministry of Health and
unions representing doctors and clinical officers.
The Council of Governors Chair Wycliffe Oparanya said Governors should have been consulted
in the return to work formula because counties are responsible for employing doctors.
The deal to go back to work was signed by health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe who said the
Ministry of Health would look at the medics’ grievances.
The medics wanted a risk allowance, provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for
frontline workers.
Doctors have promised to paralyze the health sector if Governors reversed any gains they had
made with the Ministry of Health.
Oparanya, however, insists that counties had already addressed most of the complaints by the
doctors.
“The County Governments uphold the interests of all workers including health workers.
Therefore, the negotiations that were undertaken to arrive at the return to work formula by the
two unions though well-intended need to have involved each County Government. This is
because individual County Governments are already addressing the issues of health workers are
at advances stages,” said Oparanya.
Some of the issues the Governors are contesting include the doctors’ risk allowance which, they
said, require a minimum increment of between 500 per cent and 650 per cent.
Additionally medic want a conversion of contracts to permanent and pensionable terms which
the Governors said require astronomical resources which have not been factored in the budget
and an enhanced comprehensive group life cover.
Medical laboratory officers and nurses are still on strike paralyzing county hospitals.
By JN Wamanji
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