Government to post medical interns starting July 1, Duale assures

The government has set July 1 as the official date for posting medical interns, with plans underway to increase hosting facilities for the new intakes.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed on Thursday that the Ministries of Health and Treasury are also working to address salary arrears for these interns.

In his announcement, Duale reassured the medical community that the government would ensure that all intern postings are completed by the end of June.

He further promised that the necessary steps would be taken to resolve the issue of unpaid salary arrears for medical interns, with a commitment to pay them by April 2025.

"We want to commit to you, the leadership, and to the country that the posting of the internships will be done on the first of July. You have that commitment. The parties agreed that payment of outstanding salary arrears of the national government employees was to be effected in April 2025, and we are going to do it; we have committed," Duale said.

"We are in April, and we will do it."

This assurance came after a meeting with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), where officials discussed pressing concerns about salaries and working conditions.

KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Atellah emphasized the importance of dialogue before taking any drastic measures, such as striking.

"The meeting was quite important because it was either to meet the minister before the strike or to go on the strike and meet the minister. But as a union, we believe in dialogue, and before we take any actions, we have to always exploit all the available mechanisms for addressing the issues," Atellah said.

However, doctors in Kakamega County have already issued a 14-day strike notice, set to begin on April 18, 2025, unless the county government addresses ongoing issues.

These grievances include unfulfilled promotions, the lack of a comprehensive health insurance cover, and the critical shortage of medical personnel.

The union also cited unresolved disputes, which were brought to the Ministry of Labour but failed to reach a resolution.

"This matter was referred to the Ministry of Labour, and further arbitration at the Kakamega Labour Office did not yield a resolution," Atellah explained.

He pointed out the irony of healthcare workers lacking access to the services they provide, particularly highlighting the absence of a comprehensive medical cover for doctors.

Furthermore, the union criticized Kakamega County for its failure to recruit additional medical staff despite increasing pressure on the healthcare system.

"The severe staff shortage has compromised healthcare service delivery, yet the county has failed to recruit additional personnel," Atellah added.

As the April 18 deadline looms, KMPDU remains firm in its stance that the county must take swift action to resolve these issues or face a potential strike.

The union made it clear that their members would go ahead with their plans if their concerns are not addressed promptly.