The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has issued a notice of industrial action over multiple unresolved issues affecting medical staff at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret. In a letter dated January 22, 2025, Dr. Davji Ehimji Atellah, the Secretary General and CEO of KMPDU, highlighted a range of grievances that have not been addressed by the hospital's management despite previous agreements.
KMPDU, which represents a majority of medical practitioners, pharmacists, and dentists employed across public hospitals in Kenya, particularly at MTRH, raised the following concerns:
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Unfair Labour Practices: The union claims that MTRH has failed to convert contract-based employment into permanent and pensionable positions for doctors, resulting in irregular contracts, denial of leave, lack of medical cover, and no career progression. Doctors have also been denied gratuities and pension benefits, while other hospital staff are employed on full-term contracts, further highlighting the discrimination.
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Failure to Remit Third-Party Deductions: KMPDU accused MTRH of failing to remit third-party deductions, including payments for bank loans, SACCO contributions, pension schemes, and insurance, leading to accrued arrears and penalties for the affected doctors.
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Lack of Medical Insurance: Since the lapse of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) contract on 30th September 2024, doctors and their families have been forced to pay out-of-pocket for medical expenses due to inefficiencies in the in-house insurance scheme, which has faced challenges such as drug shortages, long queues, and poor service availability.
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Failure to Promote Doctors: KMPDU claims that MTRH management has failed to promote doctors to senior and competitive positions, denying them the benefits associated with the right job grades.
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Unregistered Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA): The union reported that the CBA for 2021-2025 has not been registered, preventing doctors from receiving key benefits such as equipment allowances and school release.
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Unpaid Arrears: KMPDU also raised concerns about unpaid arrears resulting from the partial implementation of the Salary and Remuneration Commission (SRC) approved salary structure for MTRH, which was established in 2020.
In response to these issues, Dr. Atellah warned that unless the grievances are resolved within 14 days from the date of the letter, all doctors at MTRH will withdraw their services until the matters are fully addressed.
“The failure to address these critical issues not only undermines the rights of our members but also impacts the quality of care provided to patients. If the management does not act swiftly, we will have no choice but to take industrial action,” Dr. Atellah stated.
KMPDU is calling on MTRH management to urgently address these concerns to prevent a disruption in services and to ensure fair treatment and better working conditions for medical practitioners in Kenya. The union’s commitment to fighting for the rights and welfare of doctors and other healthcare workers remains steadfast.