Late night talks between the government and the doctors union on the ongoing strike hit another dead end after doctors walked out of the meeting claiming the strike is still on.
According to reports, the meeting was led by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, Cabinet Secretaries Susan Nakhumicha, Florence Bore, Council of Governors Whip Stephen Sang (Nandi).
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In addition, the meeting involved the Council’s Health Committee Chairperson Muthomi Njuki together with Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials.
However, they failed to reach an agreement with reports revealing that the doctors had introduced new demands, stalling the progress of negotiations that appeared to be nearing completion.
The government was frustrated by this development and directed that doctors should sign a return to work formula by Monday, failure to which necessary actions against them will be taken.
“If the doctors will not have signed the return to work formula by Monday, we want to ask the court to put necessary measures to ensure Kenyans get services,” fumed Public Service PS Felix Koskei.
However, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah said that the union is committed to its cause and that the strike would continue until the government met their (doctors) demands satisfactorily.
According to Atellah, the government is offering unclear implementation timelines that the union is uncomfortable with and the union demands clear timelines before they order doctors back to work.
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The issues yet to be agreed between the government and the doctors include provision of medical cover for doctors by County Governments, the release of doctors for postgraduate studies, the recruitment of doctors and the establishment of schemes for car loans and mortgages.