Clinical officers announce nationwide strike from January 19
Clinical officers have threatened to go on a nationwide strike from January 19 if the government fails to address their concerns.
Clinical officers have threatened to go on a nationwide strike from January 19 if the government fails to address their concerns.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) on Monday issued a 14-day strike notice for being locked out of the recently rolled-out Social Health Authority (SHA) and a breach of last year’s return-to-work agreement.
KUCO’s general secretary and CEO, George Gibore, in a letter to Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, her Labour counterpart Alfred Mutua and the Council of Governors, among others, termed barring clinical officers from offering services through SHA discriminatory.
“This discrimination and exclusion has been occasioned by the blatant, illegal and illogical refusal by Social Health Authority to recognise the facilities and practitioners registered and licensed by Clinical Officers Council,” Gibore said.
He lamented that clinical officers are being coerced to license their facilities with the Kenya Medical Practitioners Dentist Council (KMPDC) to have them empaneled or contracted for the new public healthcare scheme.
“We see these as acts of regularised corruption and pursuit of self-interests rather than the common good,” Gibore said, adding that they have reached out to President William Ruto, Parliament, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and SHA, to no response.
Further, the clinical officers said MoH and county governments have breached the return-to-work agreement they signed last year as the union called off their 99-day strike.
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The agreement comprised a collective bargaining agreement, promotions, comprehensive medical cover and the confirmation of universal health coverage (UHC) clinical officers and those in short-term contractual employment into permanent and pensionable employment terms.
“It is unfortunate that despite efforts from the union to follow up and expedite implementation of this agreement, employers especially county governments have remained adamant,” Gibore said.
The officers now demand immediate and unconditional recognition and empanelment of health providers and practitioners licensed by the Clinical Officers Council.
They also want the SHA board to immediately reinstate pre-authorisation rights to Clinical Officers, including specialists, and full implementation of the return-to-work agreement by January 19, failure to which they will down their tools.
“In the intervening period, we remain available for a constructive social dialogue with the government and other key stakeholders for an amicable settlement of the issues in dispute,” added Gibore.
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