Medics strike enters fourth week as patients suffer

Health services in public hospitals in the six coastal counties remain crippled as Universal Health Care (UHC) staff continue their strike into the fourth week.
The striking workers insist they will not budge until the national and county governments address their grievances.
At the heart of their demands is the immediate conversion of their contracts to permanent and pensionable terms.
They are also demanding payment of five-year gratuity amounting to over Sh900,000 per worker, remittance of National Social Security Fund deductions, access to study leave and redesignation of roles.
The strike has affected service delivery in hospitals.
In some facilities, essential services such as maternity care, outpatient treatment and emergency response have been scaled down.
Speaking during a press briefing, Chairman of Nurses Union, Kwale County, Tobias Onyango said their welfare had been neglected despite the critical role they play.
“UHC workers have made immense sacrifices for this country since Covid-19 pandemic, yet they continue to face mistreatment. We will not resume duty until we receive what is rightfully ours,” he said.
Onyango lamented that despite government promises to absorb them on permanent terms, years have passed without any consideration.
He said they handle excessive workloads but their pay ranges between Sh40,000 and Sh50,000.
“It is demoralising to see other healthcare workers paid better for the same work.
Mlazo Hinzano, a nurse in Kilifi, called on the Ministry of Health to uphold labour laws and ensure that all UHC workers are fairly treated.
Another UHC clinical officer, Samuel Nyae, said that for the past five years, health workers under UHC have stagnated.