President Ruto meet KPMDU leadership, seek to broker doctors’ return to work formula deal
President William Ruto yesterday met sought to broker truce after the end of protracted doctor’s strike and hosted the leadership of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) led by Secretary-General Davji Atellah in a move aimed at backtracking earlier dismissals of agitation by doctors for full implementation of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) at State House, Nairobi.
The meeting comes a few days after the union reached a deal with the government to end the strike that had prolonged paralysing activities in health facilities.
The union signed the return-to-work formula on May 8, 2024 after 56 days of work boycott.
Speaking after signing the return-to-work agreement, Atellah confirmed that the doctor’s strike was indeed called off.
“We had a long meeting today with the National Advisory Council which is the highest decision-making organ and they endorsed that we sign this return-to-work formula today so that it can pave the way for doctors to return to work within 24 hours from now.” Atellah said.
During signing of the pact, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha, Public Health principal secretary Mary Muthoni Muriuki were present at the meeting held at Statehouse.
Health advisors in the Executive Office of the President Daniel Mwai and Thuranira Kaugiria were also in attendance.
Earlier, the presidents had dismissed doctors’ demands for salary increment as part of the implementation of the CBA but the president dismissed their calls saying the country must live within it’s means.
During the meeting, Ruto said that the government will consistently address the persistent human resource challenges that slow down the realisation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He expressed willingness by his administration to will continually engage stakeholders in the health sector, including health workers’ unions, to promote industrial harmony and long-lasting solutions to the challenges.
On its part, the union committed to champion and support the universal healthcare agenda and the rolling out of social health insurance to all Kenyans.
Others present at the meeting were Health of Public Service Felix Kosgei, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha and Principal Secretary in the State Department of Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni.
