The government has expressed its commitment to resolving all outstanding issues facing the doctors in the country amid the work boycott set to commence on December 22.
Urging the medics to obey the court order and embrace dialogue, Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni exuded confidence that a solution would arrived at during the 90 days given by the court for negotiations.
“We love our intern doctors very much and we would want to adhere to the court ruling that gave us 90 days for consultations, we will use this period to ensure that we have the best conversations moving forward,” she said.
She regretted that patients would suffer should the doctors down tools especially during this festive season.
Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atellah directed doctors countrywide to start discharging patients from Thursday.
Atellah said from December 19, all hospitals should release patients in preparation for the doctors’ strike set for December 22.
He said they will start with Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH).
“Doctors should start discharging patients from December 19, so that on the midnight of December 22, we don’t lose patients,” he said.
"The government should be able to take responsibility for the patients because we have given enough notice.”
Muthoni at the same time disclosed that the country has recorded one Mpox virus case in the last 24 hours.
“One more Mpox virus case has been reported in the last 24 hours making a total of 29 cases in the country,” she said.
The case was recorded in Mombasa County.
The PS who was speaking in Kirinyaga stated that out of 29 cases, 18 people have been treated and discharged while 10 people are in hospital.
Muthoni assured Kenyans that the government has intensified surveillance in border entries and screening of all people coming into the county.
This is while urging them to be alert and report any suspicious cases to prevent the spreading of the Mpox virus, especially during these festive seasons.
She said the government has also enhanced testing of all people entering the country at all border points and major highways.
She has also used the opportunity to urge Kenyans to continue enrolling themselves in the Social Health Insurance scheme and parents to register all their children before reopening of schools.