Governor William Kabogo. He says that the first batch of 30 Indian doctors hired by his government to replace those on strike will arrive in the country this week. [Photo: citizentv.co.ke]
The first batch of 30 Indian doctors hired by the Kiambu county government to replace those on strike will arrive in the country this week, Governor William Kabogo has said.
According to Kabogo, his government has decided to seek services of Indian doctors to replace those on strike.
Kabogo says that his administration cannot wait for the striking doctors to resume duty while lives are being lost.
According to Kabogo, locals have suffered for three months and his administration will not allow striking doctors to continue paralysing service delivery.
Kabogo said that the 30 Indian doctors will work on a one-year contract as the county trains others.
“We cannot no longer wait for the services of striking doctors when innocent citizens are ailing,” he said as quoted by the Star
Kabogo added, “There is no way we can sit and watch as patients die when there are options.”
Kenyans continue to feel the pinch of the ongoing doctor’s strike that started on December 5 last year and has paralysed service delivery in public hospitals across the country.
Negations to end the ongoing doctor’s strike have stalled several times with the government and doctors representatives maintaining hard stands.
Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered striking doctors to resume work for negotiations to continue.
The President accused doctors of blackmailing the government adding that his government will not give in to blackmail.
Striking doctors under the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) are demanding full implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) they signed with the government in 2103.