Doctors Issues Strike Notice Over Medical Insurance Cover
Doctors Issues Strike Notice Over Medical Insurance Cover
Doctors Issues Strike Notice Over Medical Insurance Cover
Doctors have given the national government a month to reinstate comprehensive health coverage; if they don’t, they will downsize through the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentist Union (KMPDU).In his remarks on Tuesday, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah questioned the reasoning behind the new rules pertaining to medical insurance for doctors.
The doctors were complaining that the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) would no longer provide their prior full coverage. The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) will be replaced by the Social Health Insurance Fund, which will also impose a 2.75 percent medical practitioner deduction.
The doctors have stated that the cover given to them under the new regulations only covers a baseline, a factor they say compels the health practitioners to go back to their pockets to access better healthcare.“We condemn in the strongest terms the blatant disregard to the welfare of healthcare professionals who despite the unwavering commitment to the healthcare and wellbeing of Kenyans find themselves subjected to deplorable working conditions.” Devji stated.
He further reminded the government that the cover they were asking for was their right and not a favour from the government.“The aspect of comprehensive cover is not a favour we are asking from the government because we actually relinquished our medical allowance.
The doctors further called on county governments to implement agreed upon Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) fully or face a nationwide strike.“As KMPDU we categorically declare that we will not accept these injustices to persist any longer. The union stands united and committed to ensure that the rights and dignity of its members are kept.” Devji added.
On Monday, in response to inquiries over the hiring standards implemented by the administration of Governor Johnson Sakaja, Atellah also issued a warning to the Nairobi County Government.The Secretary General appealed to Governor Sakaja in a statement, warning that if the situation wasn’t resolved quickly, the union would call for a countywide strike.Atellah went on to say that the case was in court, expressing optimism that a successful resolution there would put a stop to the chaos in Nairobi and neighboring counties.
