Petition on Unfair Terms and Conditions For Universal Health Coverage(UHC) Staff and Delay in Internship Posting
The Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare held a meeting today with petitioners and various stakeholders to further deliberate on the Petition regarding unfair terms and conditions for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff and delay in internship posting.
The Committee through the Clerk of the Senate had invited the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors, Salaries and Remuneration Commission, Public Service Commission; and the Management of Kenyatta National Hospital to chart a way forward in this matter.
The SRC Chairperson informed the Committee that her Commission has not advised on remuneration and benefits of UHC staff and interns; and that the current remuneration and benefits of UHC staff and interns was recommended by the Public Service Commission. She further stated that the renewal, extension and determination of contracts of engagement for the UHC staff is not under the purview of SRC.
The Public Service Commission reiterated that following a proposal by the Ministry of Health, the Commission has extended the contracts of UHC healthcare workers for a period of one year as an interim measure pending consultations on conversion of terms of services to permanent and pension able.
On its part, the Management of Kenyatta National Hospital categorically stated that it was not involved in the recruitment of the UHC staff; and that the process of recruitment, remuneration and any other terms of engagement are handled by the Ministry of Health. The hospital is mandated to offer the training facilities for medical education and offer attachment opportunities under the internship program. The intern are either posted by the Ministry of Health or their respective professionals bodies.
The Committee urged the Public Service Commission to endeavour to have the UHC staff absorbed under permanent and pensionable terms as its only fair after they bravely fought in the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The CS Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors who are vital in the determination of this matter did not attend the meeting, causing the Committee to call for another meeting to deliberate on the matter and bring it to conclusion.
Present in today’s meeting were Sen. George Mbugua, Sen. Crystal Asige, Sen. Miraj Abdulrahman, Sen. Alexander Mundigi and Sen. Samson Cherarkey.
Post Author
