Wangui Githugo and Luke Awich
The move by the government to hire doctors from Tanzania has stirred fresh controversy between the doctor’s union who are suspicious of the deal.
Despite an assurance by the government through State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu that the Tanzanian doctors, who are destined for Kenya, would serve on the same terms as their local counterparts, the union still cried foul.
Speaking during his weekly briefing at State House yesterday, Esipisu said the 500 doctors from Tanzania would be issued with work permits and be limited to working in government hospitals.
Esipisu added, the doctors would be paid according to their qualification and experience, with the package equal to that of Kenyan intern doctors and medical officers and on a contract basis.
“The fact that the Tanzanian doctors have no access to mortgage, car loan or pension package offered under Kenya’s public service scheme, means that they will come in at a cost-effective and sustainable basis. They will give their full attention to patients in public hospitals across the country and will not be involved in private practice,” said Esipisu.
But in a quick rejoinder, Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) chairman Samuel Oroko questioned the deal, claiming there are about 1,500 doctors in Kenya who are yet to be absorbed by the government.
“The idea sounds fishy, it is bound to cost taxpayers more since the package offered to Tanzanian doctors is likely to be higher than what Kenyan doctors are getting. The government will have to take care of their basics which include housing,” Oroko told the media.
Oroko claimed the government was bound to spend Sh30,000 daily in provision of security, transport, accommodation and other needs for the Tanzanian doctors.
“Add this to a 4,000 US dollars per month salary (Sh400,000). This money is enough to first employ Kenyan doctors who have been rejected by some counties. The CS doesn’t have to go begging for doctors, let him improve working conditions, provide the required facilities and doctors will stream to our public hospitals from all corners of the world,” said Oroko.
However, Esipisu had earlier dismissed the claims that there were doctors locally who were yet to be absorbed: “Let me debunk the misguided notion that there are 1,400 doctors who have come through our public university system without jobs. Doctors are the only cadre of professionals still posted directly to hospitals from college, first as interns and after a year or so they are confirmed as medical officers,” said Esipisu.
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