KENYA—The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), has emphatically rejected the proposed migration policy from the Ministry of Health (MoH) that would restrict healthcare professionals from seeking jobs abroad.
KMPDU also criticized Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha for claiming the MoH had involved the union in the formulation of the migration policy.
KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, added that the union has already filed a petition before the Kenyan Senate to stop its implementation.
The secretary-general emphasized that the union staunchly opposed all attempts to regulate the migration of medical practitioners, particularly in light of the government’s failure to provide better alternatives for healthcare professionals within the country.
Dr. Atellah asserted, “In fact, we learned about the migration policy on the media. And it is very bad that the government can try to stop doctors from seeking greener pastures when in fact they are not granting them any greener pastures here in Kenya.”
The union head urged the ministry to reconsider its approach and involve doctors in the decision-making process before implementing any new policies.
Dr. Atellah also expressed deep concern over the present salaries of doctors, describing the current rates as demeaning.
The unionist emphasized that certain expatriates, who have fewer specializations, are earning higher salaries than well-established doctors in the country.
“It pains our doctors to see their patients lose their lives, not because they could not help them, but because the facility does not have the proper equipment and enough staff. This situation is what makes our doctors seek jobs abroad. This needs to change,” Dr. Atellah stated.
The unionist further raised concerns regarding the government’s employment record, with only 10% of graduates being employed since 2016.
Dr. Davji lobbied for the implementation of a more effective working framework that would guarantee better salaries and well-structured promotion systems.
CS defends health professional migration policy
The unionist’s remarks came after CS Nakhumicha defended the policy at the Senate stating that the government was looking after the country’s best interests.
CS Nakhumicha told senators that the proposed workforce immigration policy will ensure government-to-government engagement for health workers who are seeking greener pastures abroad.
“We want an opportunity where we prepare fit for purpose for that country so that even as they go there, they don’t get engaged in other things or they are not found to be unfit and it is better when we have a national migration policy,’’ CS Nakhumicha told senators.
The Senate Health Committee grilled CS Nakhumicha with members drawing parallels between slavery and the proposed migration policy.
“If somebody has found greener pastures somewhere else and you’re holding onto them saying you cannot release them, please demonstrate the distinction between your policy and slavery?” Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna posed.
KMPDU cited the Private Employment Agencies Convention (No 181) of the ILO Convention (1997) which states that workers who are placed or hired out by private employment agencies have access to freely chosen job opportunities, without discrimination.
Furthermore, it states that their fundamental rights at work, including the right to join or form trade unions and the right to collective bargaining, are protected.
The KMPDU told the Senate Health Committee the decision by the ministry to bypass the union goes against its role in advocating for the protection of the rights of health workers.
KMDPU SG Davji Atellah told the Jackson Mandagor-led committee that there is no indication that the ministry consulted the healthcare workers who will be affected by the policy.
“The process is shrouded in mystery, and the the-would-be affected persons have mainly remained oblivious to the creation and existence of the policy,” Dr. Atellah informed the Senate committee.
The union further noted that about 4,000 qualified jobless doctors are jobless, hence the policy curtails voluntary emigration of doctors to other countries.
Health Director-General Patrick Amoth acknowledged that failure to coordinate the migration is likely to weaken the health systems.
This saw the need for the formation of a task force to develop a workforce migration policy as a priority to guide the health sector on all matters of health workforce labor migration.
“Many countries continue to seek Kenyan health workers while on another hand, the country currently cannot offer employment opportunities to all our health worker cadres who graduate from our training institutions,” Amoth said.
He added that the migration if not well harnessed had the potential of destabilizing or weakening our health systems through various ways, including antecedent brain drain and long-term economic loss on education investments that end up not serving the country’s needs.
The DG further raised concern it can lead to the possible exploitation of skilled health professionals by predatory recruitment agencies leading to uncoordinated and unfair labor engagements.
“There is a need to have a systematic coordinated and harmonized health workforce migration process that will ensure the country’s mandate to provide health care is maintained,” DG Amoth emphasi
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