Health ministry posts first batch of medical interns to hospitals

Health ministry starts posting medical interns to hospitals. [Courtesy, Ministry of Health]

The Ministry of Health has started posting 889 medical interns to various public hospitals.

This is in line with an agreement made between the Ministry and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) on December 30, 2022, to avert a doctor's strike that had been scheduled in early January.

In a statement on Twitter, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha said; "I am pleased to announce that the posting of interns has commenced. The interns form a core part of our health service delivery team and we will support them to serve and learn."

KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atella has since welcomed the Ministry's efforts in keeping its end of the bargain.

"We acknowledge and laud the Ministry's effort towards ensuring industrial harmony in the sector and look forward to the posting of the remaining 200 officers within the financial year as promised," said Atella.

"We are confident that the industrial disharmony that has been arising from delays and failure to post interns is now a thing of the past," he added.

Posting of medical interns was one of the issues doctors wanted the government to fulfil as it is part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) covering the 2017-2021 period.

Other issues are; basic salary adjustments, creation of call rooms, employment of more doctors and provision of working tools are some of the issues highlighted by the doctors.