The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) now says its members will stage a nationwide go-slow on Tuesday next week.
This was revealed by KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, in letters to the Kilimani Police Station, Capitol Police Station, as well as the Regional Police Commander seeking security ahead of the planned peaceful procession in Nairobi.
Dr. Atellah disclosed that the strike has been occasioned by what he termed an “unemployment and underemployment crisis” in the country’s health facilities.
He stated that the medical practitioners will hence march from the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) to the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors (CoG) offices where they will deliver a petition.
“This is to notify you that doctors (consultants, medical practitioners, pharmacists, dentists, registrars, interns, and medical students) in Kenya will be holding a peaceful procession on Tuesday 12th September 2023 at 10:00am to deliver a petition on the state of Healthcare in Kenya,” wrote the union boss to the security agencies.
“There are unprecedented shortages of doctors and healthcare workers in the hospital amidst unemployment and underemployment crisis in both public and private hospitals.”
He further added: “The procession will be from Kenyatta National Hospital to the Ministry of Health and end at the Council of Governors (COG). We are requesting your security during this procession.”