The Council of Governors wants the 2017 CBA between the doctors union (KMPDU) and Government relooked into, saying it contains components that are not only difficult to implement but unreasonable.
According to Council of Governors Health Committee chairperson and Tharaka Nithi governor Muthomi Njuki, 95% of doctors have individual contracts with each of the 47 counties, and thus their continued stay in the streets is unwarranted.
Consequently, the governor wants county based doctors unions to engage governors to iron out their grievances as opposed to starving Kenyans of health-care services countrywide.
“Could there be more to the strike than what is being aired? This is the question being fronted by the Council of Governors who believe most of the issues doctors are on strike about have either been addressed or are in the pipeline
Speaking at this years Quality Healthcare Kenya Awards held in Nairobi, Council of Governors health committee chairperson Governor Muthomi Njuki wondered why there was a national out cry by doctors, yet a larger percentage of the doctors are employed by the 47 county governments with individual contractsÂ
According to the Tharaka Nithi governor, there was no way doctors were being incited to go on strike countrywide yet the grievances vary from county to county
Infact, the governor is questioning the rationale with which a national body is speaking for 95% of doctors who are employed by counties.
Some of the grievances put forth include the deployment of intern doctors at a salary of kes. 150,000 whereas the government is offering kes. 70,000 for now.
Backing the statement Principal Secretary for the satet department of health and standards Mary Muthoni said there is what is doable and there is what will be done later.
PS Muthoni asked doctors to reconsider their hardline stands and get back to the negotiating table in a bid to find an amicable solution at the fastest time possible
The two spoke at the 5th health sector excellence awards dubbed the Quality Healthcare Kenya Awards in Nairobi where Tharaka Nithi and Mombasa counties were feted for exemplary service delivery with Tharaka Nithi winning an award for the best health managed systems in the country
AWARDS
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN IMPROVING ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE SERVICES
Changamwe Sub County
2. AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN ADVANCING MATERNAL, NEWBORN AND CHILD HEALTH
Likoni Sub County Hospital
3. AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN ADDRESSING NCDs
Likoni Sub County
4. HEALTH FACILITY INNOVATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Kidunguni Dispensary
5.YOUNG INNOVATORS AWARD
Kevin Otieno
6. HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Ruwaida Hussein Hadi
7. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Dr. Monica Oguttu
8. USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE PATIENT CARE
Jomvu Model Health Centre
9. AWARD OF MEDIA EXCELLENCE IN PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELL BEING
Angela Oketch
10. BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN HEALTHCARE
Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital
11. EXCELLENCE IN IMPROVING ACCESS TO MEDICAL PRODUCTS, VACCINES AND TECHNOLOGIES
Likoni Sub County
12. HEALTHCARE FINANCING INNOVATION AWARD
Tudor Sub County Hospital
13. HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP AWARD
Phyllys Kemunto Onkoba
14. GENDER DIVERSITY IN HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP
Ruaraka Uhai Neema Hospital
15. COUNTY WITH THE BEST-MANAGED HEALTHCARE
Tharaka Nithi County
16. COUNTY INNOVATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Tharaka Nithi County
17. AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN HEALTHCARE
AAR Healthcare Kenya Limited
18. Primary Care Provider of the Year
Ruaraka Uhai Neema Hospital
19. Secondary Care Provider of the Year
PCEA Chogoria Hospital
20. Tertiary Care Provider of the Year
Kenyatta National Hospital