End of Agreement With Cuban Physicians
End of Agreement With Cuban Physicians
Nakhumicha Wafula, the cabinet secretary for health, has said that the government would not extend its contract with Cuban medical professionals who entered the nation six years ago to fill openings at county hospitals.
The deal between Kenya and Cuba that was signed when previous President Uhuru was in office was dogged by controversy since local healthcare professionals criticized the action.
Kenyan doctors complained about being ignored, saying they were capable of doing all their Cuban colleagues could, but only lacked the funding and medical supplies to carry out their duties.Local doctors also criticized the action, claiming it was unjust to Kenyan healthcare professionals who were out of work.Nevertheless, Cuba’s healthcare system has earned praise for being among the best in the world.This is as a result of its emphasis on a preventative rather than a curative approach to medicine, which had been commonly used in Kenya.
Despite the criticism, Kenya decided to keep the agreement once the two-year contract with Cuba expired, much to the dismay of the local physicians. Institutions including the Council of Governors (CoG) and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) have demanded that the agreement be terminated. There have been complaints about the wealthy compensation Cuban doctors have been receiving, which includes full medical care through the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and fully paid utility costs.
