Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union has defended staff at Kenyatta National Hospital after medic were suspended for conducting a head surgery on a wrong patient.
Ouma Oluga, chief executive officer of KMPDU said in the mix-up at KNH laid bare the dangers to patients of an“overwhelmed” system and staff.
Kenyan media reported that a neurosurgery registrar, anesthetist, and two nurses had been suspended by the hospital.
“These are quality system issues that should not be leveled at staff,” Oluga said, adding punishing doctors and nurses would not address problems in the patient tracking system. A shortage of medical staff and inadequate theatre space made errors more likely.
“Doctors are overwhelmed. You find one doctor could be doing 10 to 19 operations [in a day],” he said.
Government-employed doctors say they are poorly paid and work without adequate equipment. Last year the government granted them a pay rise promised in 2013 after a three-month strike.