From graduation to limbo: The plight of unplaced medical graduates

"I was admitted to Maseno University on November 7, 2016, and was supposed to have completed my studies in 2022 but due to Covid-19 we had to stay home for one year," says Auma.

The global pandemic forced Auma to earn her medical degree in May 2023.

When Auma graduated from medical school, she was a source of pride for her family and hometown as she embodied the hopes and dreams of her entire village.

Having benefited from fundraisers by the community, Auma represented hope as her medical degree was not just an individual honour, but a collective achievement.

"I am here today as a person who actually contributed to finish her medical school," she says.

"As the only girl that has gone to university from my village and graduated with a medical degree, it is a shame that I cannot practice," said Auma

With a degree in hand, Auma feels only regret, despite passing exams and training for the esteemed career: her doctor-to-be dreams still hang in the balance.

"I don't have a license. I am unposted and I cannot do anything. I am hoping the government will hear our cry and let us have our posting letters as soon as possible so that we can start serving the community," she said.

On February 20, hundreds of interns converged at the Kenya Medical Association Centre (KMA) to question the delay in their postings for compulsory professional training and licensing by the Ministry of Health.

During the protest, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) issued a strike notice to push for the interns' posting.

KMPDU Secretary General Dr Davji Bhimji Atella said they will down tools from March 1.

"On Feb 29, 2024, all medical interns will go to the Ministry of Health to collect their internship letters failure to which from March 1, doctors will down their tools in solidarity with the interns or a notice will follow," said Dr Atella.

In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Health on January 12, KMPDU expressed disappointment and highlighted the violation of sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The Ministry of Health says it needs Sh4.9 billion to be able to implement its annual internship programme. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Nicole Sophie, 26, expected she would immediately dive into hands-on training to become a licensed doctor.

Six months after graduating top of her class from Egerton University, Sophie remains stuck at home, dreams stalled by delays as she awaits deployment approval for her compulsory internship.

"I completed my studies in August 2023 but the policy clearly states intern assignments should come within 30 days. Here, I am still home," says a frustrated Sophie.

Sophie's family struggles to support her financially post-college, believing she would begin earning. But without a license, she cannot even take up locum jobs at clinics despite her qualifications.

"I am a risk to patients until licensed. Apart from the frustration of just doing chores at home, there's no one to employ me," Sophie adds.

But more worrying for her is how bottlenecks in deploying medical interns are straining Kenya's overburdened hospitals and healthcare.

"Many hospitals now have no junior doctors. This greatly impacts patient care and public health," she said.

This delay in obtaining mandatory licenses prevents these graduates from embarking on supervised hospital internships, a crucial final step in their hands-on residency.

Thousands of promising young physicians completed all educational requirements long ago but still find their careers stalled, unable to utilise skills Kenya desperately needs, as they languish awaiting government approval to begin hands-on practice in hospitals.

In its letter, KMPDU said: "The timely posting of interns is not only a contractual obligation of the ministry but also a crucial (aspect) of the effective function of our healthcare system. The delayed deployment of these healthcare professionals hampers their licensing as doctors as well as the delivery of essential medical services to the public."

Despite being cleared for deployment by the KMPDC and PPB, the graduates say their career progression has stalled.

"Medical interns are the backbone of this country's healthcare system and it is going to be a huge crisis if interns are not posted soon," says Muinde Nthusi, the Chairman of Association of Medical Students of the University of Nairobi.

Nakhumicha said that the ministry may revise its internship policies to enable a smooth transition for medical graduates from university coursework directly into year-long hospital training programs.

The CS has made proposals to pay them in the same range as other interns in Kenya.