Natembeya angered by doctors absconding duty, vows to crack the whip

Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya. [File, Standard]

Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya has put doctors in public hospitals on notice after reports some are failing to report to work to run their private clinics.

The governor said he would not hesitate to fire medics who miss work to attend to their own private matter, including running their private clinics.

"I am disappointed that some senior staff, including surgeons, are not committed to delivering quality and timely health services to the people at their respective stations. We have information that some of them abscond duty to run their private clinics," Natambeya said.

"We will crack the whip on those found engaging in this malpractice. We will fire medics who skip work to manage their facilities," said the governor who spoke during the launch of medical kits for Community Health Promoters (CHPs).

He added: "I have seen the performance report and I'm annoyed. Some senior medics are not working. They are busy with private business at the expense of the public whom they are expected to serve. I can assure you that this will not go on any longer."

Natembeya regretted that some surgeons have not conducted even a single surgery over the past two years, yet there are so many patients in need of the service. Natembeya said one of the surgeons has only carried out one operation in the past year.

"From the report, one surgeon has conducted 314 surgeries in the past year, while others have not done even a single surgery," he lamented.

"Failure by medics to attend to patients is unethical yet the medics are paid to provide those services. Some medics are taking home as much as Sh400,000 per month for no work done. This is a disgrace to the county," the county boss said.

"Some medics have refused to stand between the patient and death when they can easily do so. There is no need for such people to continue receiving salaries."

"Why should we allow some medics to continue drawing salaries when they overlook people they are supposed to attend to? I cannot work with such employees," said Natembeya.

He said it is regrettable that some medics are not willing to serve the public as if they were forced to take up the profession.

"Nobody forced doctors to take the profession. They are supposed to serve the interest of patients by standing between them and death," said Natembeya.

He slammed some medics for opposing their relocation from the Kitale district hospital to Kijana Wamalwa Memorial Hospital.

The governor challenged the medics to change their mindset and take their profession seriously.

"In this health sector, one has to be committed and stand between patient and death. It is ungodly to leave patients to die," the governor said, adding: "Now, people are dying yet doctors are there. I will make sure the doctors who are not working are not part of my government. Let people die when they are not there than dying when they are there."

While handing over the medical kits to the CHP, Natembeya warned against the commercialization of the equipment.

"These kits are supposed to help the public and not for private business. Those found misusing them will be punished," he said adding that those who do well will be rewarded.

"When you do justice to the people, God will reward you, but failure to do so you will curse your family," said the governor.