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Eldoret doctors go on strike over unmet demands

Eldoret doctors go on strike over unmet demands
Medical practitioners holding demos on the streets. PHOTO/Print

Scores of patients seeking minor and critical services at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret were turned away following the industrial action called by medical doctors yesterday.

The more than 200 doctors are protesting the failure by the hospital management to remit their statutory deductions, which are said to amount to over Sh1 billion.

They also want the management to hire them on permanent and pensionable terms if they expect them to call off their strike, which has started to hit key services at the public hospital.

Led by Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentist Union North Rift chapter Secretary Kamonzi Mulei, they said that some of the critical services that have been affected by the doctors’ strike include, theatre, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), ward services, radiology and imaging services.

They have asked President William Ruto to intervene to save the situation from getting out of hand.

“We have resolved to down our tools following the hospital’s management failure to address our demands despite several reminders,” Mulei said.

Mulei who was flanked by the national union’s treasurer Dr Nancy Nabwire and North Rift chapter chairman Darwid Ambuka, vowed that none of the doctors will attend to any critical cases at the facility.

He revealed that doctors from Moi university are set to join their industrial action in the event the hospital fails to move with speed and resolve their matters.

“As much as we sympathise with the plight of our clients, we can only tell them to bear with the situation because we are fighting for our just right,” said Mulei.

The union chapter chairman Darwid Ambuka advised those seeking critical services to go to the nearby private facilities since there were no doctors to attend to them at the Eldoret-based MTRH.

Mary Chebomen who had brought her son for amputation of his right toe caused drama at the MTRH entrance on learning that doctors were on strike on the same day his son had been booked for the procedure.

She claimed to have travelled from Turbo sub county with her son Daniel Chejan ready for the amputation of the toe which had started rotting after he was involved in a motorcycle accident two weeks ago.

“I have no money to take my son to a private hospital for toe to be amputated,” cried the elderly woman.

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