The conflict between health authorities in Nairobi County and medical workers at the frontline has become a full-blown crisis, as doctors and clinical officers have rejected the county government’s order to return to work without any exception, putting critical services in danger first of all and causing patients, civil society, and health stakeholders urgent concern all over Kenya’s capital already.
The deadlock broke out when a county official gave an ultimatum late Thursday, ordering that the striking health personnel should come back to work at once or else be subjected to disciplinary action. On Friday morning, in a coordinated response, the representatives of Nairobi’s doctors and clinical officers met and issued a joint rejection, mentioning “unresolved safety, remuneration, and operational issues” as the reason for their ongoing withdrawal of services in the public hospitals.
Senior medical staff presented a statement at Kenyatta National Hospital condemning the county order as “tone-deaf and disconnected from the realities confronting health professionals on the ground.” They reiterated their demands for better working conditions, timely payment of salaries, adequate personal protective equipment, and a substantial review of staffing levels that they claim have made facilities dangerously understaffed.
The refusal to cooperate escalates an already existing deadlock, which has resulted in reduced service delivery at main county hospitals, longer emergency care waiting times, and more patients getting frustrated who rely on public health services. Relatives of critically ill patients have voiced their concern regarding disturbances, bemoaning what they see as “a healthcare collapse in slow motion.”
Beatrice Elachi, the Health Executive of Nairobi County, admitted to the deadlock but insisted that “the county can never permit infinite cessation of services,” which takes away the rights of the patients. She confirmed the decision to talk with union leaders but cautioned that the ongoing non-compliance might lead to disciplinary actions being imposed on the hospitals.
Leave a Reply