The administration of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) on Tuesday signed a return to work formula with the doctors who had downed their tools on February 4, following what they claimed as the move by the hospital to fail honoring their needs in terms of promotion, remittance of third party deductions, statutory deductions and others.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for MTRH, Dr. Philip Kirwa, indicated that, they have discussed and agreed on various issues raised by the doctors and have developed a formula to address the issues that led to the one week strike that paralysed Services in largest Referral in the region.
“Today we have the privilege of ending the industrial action called by KMPDU over various matters raised by the members of the union, we have reached an agreement and we are signing a return to work formula,” noted Dr. Kirwa.
In his remarks KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, who spoke to the press during the signing ceremony between the members of the union and the hospital administration at the MTRH boardroom, pointed out that they have solved the issues raised like promotions, change of employment terms from contract to permanent basis, harmonizing doctor’s insurance cover, remittance of third party deductions and others.
“Upon the signing of this RTWF, the affected doctors will resume their duties in 24 hours now that all the issues raised have been resolved. We thank the board if management of Moi hospital for working around the clock to ensure doctors are promoted and have received the letters,” noted the SG KMPDU.
The more than 200 doctors who are members of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) decried what they termed as silent suffering occasioned by their employer who had not even honoured the agreement to employ doctors on permanent and pensionable terms rather than contractual basis.
KMPDU Northrift Secretary General Dr. Kilonzi Mulei noted that the hospital owes them salary in arrears close to Sh 1 billion.
By Ekuwam Sylvester and Emmanuel Kibet
