Embu County doctors have ended their seven-day strike following successful talks with the Embu County Government.
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire announced the calling off of the strike at a press conference where the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) said their talks had resolved issues that had been outstanding for the last ten years.
The 97 doctors from all the County’s public hospitals downed their tools citing lack of promotions, non-remittance of retained statutory deductions and loan repayment funds, and denial of study leave.
They also wanted doctors employed on contract terms to be translated to permanent terms and other working conditions improved.
Mbarire announced they had agreed that the process to promote all doctors aged over 55 years start immediately while those of other doctors will proceed as per public service rules.
Mbarire said they had also agreed that the unremitted dues would be settled as a matter of priority when the County government receive money in the new financial year in July.
They also agreed to have a structured system of approving study leave outside the County where only 10 per cent of the doctors would be allowed to be away at a time so as not to paralyse services.
She said to address the shortage of critical medical staff the County government and the union agreed that money saved from staff who exit service be used to hire replacements immediately.
KMPDU was represented in the talks by its National and County officials led by National Chair Abidan Mwachi and Secretary General Davji Atellah and County officials Dennis Mwenda and Elvis Mwandiki.
The parties agreed that in the conversion of doctors on contract to permanent terms, priority be given to those who had served for more than three years.
By Steve Gatheru
