Doctors have threatened stern action including withdrawal of services after an intern pharmacist stationed at a Kiambu hospital died allegedly by suicide.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) cited financial woes as a factor that seemingly motivated the action by the doctor.
"Earlier in September we had lost Dr Desiree Moraa under similar circumstances...and I'm aware of five who have attempted suicide and were rescued and hospitalised," KMPDU secretary general Dr Devji Atellah said in a statement on Tuesday.
He stated that the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2017 regarding doctors' pay had not been honoured.
Dr Atellah stated that it's unacceptable to have Universal Health Coverage rolled out with little regard for the welfare of the doctors who are expected to deliver the services.
For six months, he said, they have waited for the implementation of the 2017 CBA as ordered by the courts but nothing was given.
"We say enough is enough and tomorrow, November 27, we shall address a press conference about our next steps," he said.
In a separate statement, intern doctors demanded compensation for the family of their dead colleague.
Through their Intern Liason Committee chaired by Dr Muinde Nthusi and Dr Elisha Otieno as secretary general, the trainee doctors decried "insurmountable" financial hardships within the medical fraternity that have made it an uphill task for them to meet their basic needs, such as rent and utility bills.
This, they said, has been worsened by four months' unpaid salaries that have driven most of them on the brink.
"Overwhelming financial constraints have adverse effects on general mental well-being.
This devastating incident is not an isolated case; it starkly highlights the urgent need for the
Ministry of Health and the government to confront the negligence and inconsiderate treatment of
doctor interns," they stated.
The intern medics said they continue to work under unfavourable conditions despite constituting a significant portion of the healthcare workforce in public facilities.
On September 24, Dr Moraa, who was then a medical intern was found dead on the balcony of her bedroom apartment in an apparent case of suicide.
Her colleagues said fatigue borne from working a 36-hour shift compounded by financial woes probably may pushed her to an emotional breakdown.
"We must ask: how many more lives must we lose before
decisive action is taken?" the intern doctors asked.
"With these dire circumstances in mind, we hereby call upon all doctor interns in public health facilities, community and
industrial practice rotations, and major referral hospitals, to withdraw their services indefinitely until a satisfactory resolution regarding
compensation is reached," the Intern Liason Committee said.
"Our demand is simple and unequivocal: Pay doctor interns now!"
KMPDU and the Intern Liason Committee sent condolences to the family and friends of their deceased colleague.
"His passing serves as a painful reminder of the systemic failures that continue to plague the medical profession. We cannot allow this cycle of despair to persist any longer."
