Doctors will on Tuesday hold a peaceful procession in Nairobi to present a petition to various offices on issues they want addressed in the health sector.
According to the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union SG Davji Atellah, the procession is expected to start at Kenyatta National Hospital to the Ministry of Health before proceeding to the Council of Governors offices.
Key on the agenda is a call to the government to undertake comprehensive reforms that will revitalise and strengthen the healthcare infrastructure.
Atellah noted that the country’s healthcare system is facing a crisis witnessed by a steady deterioration in the quality of healthcare services provided.
“There are no drugs, no equipment, no reagents and no functional amenities, leaving the overburdened doctors to only certify death,” Atellah said.
They further want equal opportunities and dignified employment for the doctors and health workforce in the country.
The SG noted that the health sector is grappling with the challenge of unemployment and underemployment among doctors.
This, he said, not only deprives the skilled professionals of meaningful employment but also denies Kenyans access to the healthcare they deserve.
Another pressing issue is to push for better terms of employment that recognise the dedication of doctors and the critical role they play in safeguarding the health of Kenyans.
“Our doctors are the backbone of the healthcare system, yet they often work under unfavorable conditions,” Atellah said.
The doctors are also decrying what they have termed as poor working conditions.
Atellah noted that doctors and health workforce, both private and public hospitals, endure poor working conditions that hamper their ability to provide quality care.
“We demand improvements in these conditions to ensure that our healthcare heroes can serve with dedication and pride. We demand implementation of agreed collective bargaining agreements.”
He noted that Tuesday’s procession will send a strong message to the leadership of the country on the need to prioritise the sector for the well-being of both the doctors and the Kenyans at large.
