Nairobi doctors have finally ended their strike after signing a return-to-work formula with the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
The doctors have been on strike since Friday over lack of comprehensive medical cover, arrears owed to locums, promotions and re-designations among other concerns.
The inking of the deal came after a series of talks involving officials drawn from NMS, Nairobi County government and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU).
“On behalf of doctors of Nairobi County, we have called off the strike and we shall resume work immediately and shall continue offering work as normal,” said KMPDU Nairobi branch secretary-general Thuranira Kaugiria.
Mr Kaugiria said that NMS has agreed to have every doctor given comprehensive NHIF cover and also promote nearly 220 doctors who have not been promoted for years.
“Issues of promotions and re-designations have been addressed. All our doctors have been promoted and re-designated to their rightful job groups. Starting from September 4, 2020, all the doctors will be covered by NHIF. Between now and the day, if any doctor falls sick, NMS has undertaken to take care of all the expenses,” he said.
He added that NMS also agreed to clear outstanding arrears owed to locums working in Mbagathi, Mama Lucy and Pumwani hospitals which has been accrued since March.
Locum doctors are those that fill temporary positions at hospitals and medical practices across the country for a few weeks or months at a time.
The union also struck a deal to have five of their specialists who had not been paid salaries for the last 26 months after being struck off the payroll following investigations by DCI to be reinstated.
“Five consultants who had not been paid for the last 26 months have been reinstated and their salaries will be paid in full starting September,” said the SG.
Mr Kaugiria, however, warned NMS that the ball is on their court to implement the deal failure to which they will return to the streets.
He said promotions must reflect on the September payroll, salaries be paid fifth of every month and no union officials be victimised.
“We are used to signing documents but not implementing them but let it be known that calling off this strike does not stop us from calling for another strike,” he said.
