Deal on medical interns comes on the heels of crippling strike that had devastating effects on national health
The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union, KMPDU, has finally reached an agreement with the Ministry of Health to start posting medical interns immediately after a crippling strike ended in May without a deal on the issue.
In a statement released by KIMDU secretariat last night, the Union said 1,200 medical interns would start collecting their posting letters immediately following the agreement signed between the union and the Ministry of Health. The mater of medical internships had been left following an agreement that ended the but had now been concluded and interns would start working at their new stations on August 1, 2-024.
In its statement, the union paid tribute to its former secretary general. Dr. Ouma Oluga, wh it said had intervened to help the ministry appreciate the importance of the CBA signed with the union. Officials involved in the negotiations were PS Mary Muthoni Muriuki, Mr.Adan Harakhe for the Ministry of Health. The union was represented by Abi Mwachi, Mercy Anai Nabwire, Idan Miskellah, Sajoh Lubale Makomere, Cheruiyot K Rotich, Kahura Mundia, and lawyer Edgar Washika.
The agreement now enables medical interns to start the final part of their entry into the medical profession.
But as the union and would -be interns celebrated the new development, Dr. Oluga, posting on his X platform handle, said there were issues that needed to be addressed. He noted the issues as;
1. Their contracts are incomplete without stating their pay. A fact both parties beautifully acknowledged.
2. Two new groups of interns are being released by December begging the question, will they also wait for one more year.
There had been no reaction from the KMDU or the MoH on those issues by the time this report was filed.