The Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) has written to the Health Cabinet Secretary Dr Cleopa Mailu, making five demands on behalf of patients and families of the deceased persons, as a result of the ongoing doctors' strike.
Through secretary general Stephen Mutoro, Cofek has demanded that the government makes a public apology over the pain it has subjected to innocent patients and their families.
It wants all patients in public hospitals be transferred to private hospitals with immediate effect and at the express expense of government for the entire duration of the strike; and that families of persons who have lost lives as a result of the doctors’ strike, be appropriately compensated
Cofek also wants the Dr Mailu and Principal Secretary Dr Nicholas Muraguri to step aside over failure to adhere to provisions of Article 232 on Values and Principles of Public Service, and that the Ministry of Health initiates a legislation to set up a National and County Health Practitioners Service Commission to address their employment and welfare issues.
In the letter copied to Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, the Presidency and State House, Mutoro also cited the Sh5.3 billion Afya House scam, wondering why Health Ministry officials have lately been mum about it.
The lobby group has further clarified that they may proceed, without notice to the Ministry, to seek a legal redress if there will be no satisfactory response to the demands.
'Please note that we may proceed, without further notice to you, to seek a legal redress if there is no satisfactory response to this demands,'' read Cofek's letter in part, Wednesday.