The Ministry of Health has committed to collaborating closely with the Council of Governors (CoG) to avert a potential healthcare crisis amidst rising tensions with the medical workforce.
Doctors have issued threats to return to the streets if the recently signed return-to-work formula is not honored, heightening fears of a nationwide strike as seen in previous years.
Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa underscored the Ministry’s resolve to implement the agreements made within the stipulated timelines, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a stable healthcare environment.
“We are keen to ensure that there is no return to strikes. The health of our citizens must remain a priority,”
Barasa stated during her courtesy visit to the CoG health committee’s chairperson, Muthomi Njuki, at the council’s headquarters.
Statistics gathered from the Ministry of Health revealed that previous strikes by medical professionals have resulted in significant service disruptions; in 2024, prolonged strikes have been reported to cause a backlog of over 100,000 medical procedures across the country.
The 2023 strike lasted for nearly three months, which led to an estimated loss of KSh 20 billion in healthcare costs and deeply affected the most vulnerable populations who depend on public health services.
In tandem with these developments, CoG health committee chairperson Muthomi Njuki voiced concerns over the Ministry’s handling of health policies, arguing for a more inclusive decision-making process.
“We feel sidelined when decisions are made without our input. For effective governance, there should be better communication between the Ministry and the Council,” Njuki remarked.
He urged the Ministry to take immediate measures to reassure doctors and stave off the possibility of unrest.
Moving forward in their discussions, Barasa addressed the issue of Community Health Promoters (CHPs), noting that the Ministry would explore the possibility of a unified payment system.
Currently, CHPs are funded through disparate channels, resulting in inconsistencies that have frustrated both county and national health officials. “We will work to ensure that CHPs are compensated from a single financing pool to enhance efficiency and accountability,” Barasa assured the committee.
The cooperation shown by the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors could spare thousands of citizens from the adverse impacts of a doctors’ strike, which has repercussions beyond hospital walls and into Kenya’s broader public health landscape.
