800 medical interns to be posted to public hospitals

Some 800 medical interns are set to be deployed to public hospitals across the country in the next two weeks to boost healthcare delivery, Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Susan Wafula has said.

Speaking at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret Tuesday, Wafula said the government’s latest move was aimed at addressing the acute shortage of medical doctors in the public hospitals in the country.

The CS averred the government was committed to ensuring all public health facilities are equipped with the necessary manpower and skills for effective delivery of universal health care to the citizens.

Wafula who was on her maiden familiarization tour of public health facilities in the region told the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union to hold their horses as the government was determined to address their concerns instead of issuing threats and resorting to intimidation.

Her remarks on the hiring and deployment of medical interns come in the wake of threats by the doctors’ union officials who had called for industrial action over the government’s failure to employ jobless medical interns.

The officials led by Secretary-General Dr. Davji Atellah had issued a one-month strike notice over a number of key grievances, including the employment of medical interns in public hospitals in the country.

“Government is not interested in threats and intimidation from the doctors’ unions, but we are only concerned with the delivery of universal health care and the additional employment of medical interns in our public health facilities,” said Wafula who was flanked by the hospital CEO Dr. Wilson Aruasa and Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii.

The CS also dismissed claims that the Linda Mama Initiative has been scrapped by the current regime, terming the claims as untrue.

Wafula added that the programme, which she termed noble, was there to stay. “I know there has been a lot of talk in the media that Linda Mama has been scrapped, but I want to confirm to you as the CS for Health that Linda Mama is still with us, all the pregnant mothers are being taken care of under Linda Mama,” she assured.

The CS lauded MTRH for being a model institution in quality healthcare service provision to Kenyans.

“I am proud of the success stories emanating from MTRH including the recent successful kidney transplant of a patient referred from Burundi, I am impressed with your focused leadership and service delivery, be assured of our support.”

The CS gave an undertaking of the Government’s commitment to construct a 2000-bed Multi-Specialty MTRH at Kiplombe, near Eldoret Airstrip.

Wafula pledged reforms at National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA), while forging a close working relationship with County Governments in healthcare delivery, particularly in Primary Healthcare (PHC).

Speaking during the same function, Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii commended the good working relationship with MTRH on health matters and expressed gratitude for AMPATH Revolving Pharmacy now back in operation in the County facilities.

MTRH CEO Dr. Wilson K. Aruasa reiterated that quality of care at MTRH has been achieved through prudent utilization of resources, investment in Human Resources for Health (HRH), modernization of equipment and infrastructure, capacity building for clinical and corporate staff and forging strategic partnerships and alliances.