New strike threat in health sector over devolution

Health workers at a past strike: Government medical staff through their unions warned they would down tools in three weeks if the State does not open talks on devolution of their services. Photo/FILE   Nation Media Group

By EVELYN SITUMA

In Summary

• At a Press conference by government healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, through their unions warned they would down tools in three weeks if the State does not open talks on the issues.
• The warning comes days after a House committee asked for a reversal of decentralisation of health services to counties citing resignation of doctors and incapacity of counties to offer services.
• The workers want the government to comply with guidelines provided by Transitional Authority (TA) on transfer of the services. TA gives a three-year window for decentralisation of health services.

Healthcare workers have come out strongly against devolution of services, arguing that medical and other essential services should not be run by counties.

At a Press conference by government healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, the medical staff through their unions warned they would down tools in three weeks if the State does not open talks on the issues.

The warning comes days after a House committee asked for a reversal of decentralisation of health services to counties citing resignation of doctors and incapacity of counties to offer services.

“Health care services can’t be devolved at present. We first need proper systems and structures in place,” said Kenya Health Professionals Society secretary general Moses Lerre.

The workers want the government to comply with guidelines provided by Transitional Authority (TA) on transfer of the services. TA gives a three-year window for decentralisation of health services.

READ: Health service to be taken from counties

However, the government has bypassed the provision, announcing that all functions should be devolved by January next year.

The civil servants are calling for enactment of the Health Bill to allow stakeholders’ participation, establishment of a health commission to oversee transfer of health functions to counties and reversal of appointments by the Ministry of Health.

According to the unions, directorates and divisions have unconstitutionally been created at Afya House. In the process, some 73 personnel have in the last few months been posted to Afya House in senior positions from county stations to the chagrin of the staff. 

Health workers gave the government a 21-day ultimatum to consult or else they will withdraw services from institutions.

“The government should lay off everyone and pay us our pension dues. Then whoever wants to work for the devolved systems can go ahead and apply,” said Seth Panyako general-secretary Kenya National Union of Nurses.

The unions want the government to initiate the process of formulating health policy and later health laws, before devolving the functions.

“We support the constitution and devolution 100 per cent. But we are opposed to how devolution is being done,” said Sultani Matendechero, the secretary- general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union.

According to Dr Matendechero, the sudden transfer of health function to the counties has seen resignation medical doctors .“We want proper channels to be followed. As healthcare workers, we are putting our foot down so that we can consult,” added Dr Matendechero.

MPs are also seeking to reverse decentralisation of health functions.