Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has warned striking doctors to stop and resume duties with immediate effect.
The doctors have been on strike demanding payment of their medical insurance NHIF.
Sakaja says his government inherited the health insurance stalemate and that he is on the move to get county doctors a better cover.
‘‘The blame that you doctors are putting us into is not our mess, During NMS tenure the national government entered into agreement with National Hospital Insurance NHI so that it can give them health insurance these contacts are here with us what am requesting is you to go back to work, the street demos will not help because we are working on a comprehensive cover to ensure you guys are safe,” Sakaja said.
“Am a politician we can push each other on street but I don’t want us to go that route. But please don’t convert yourself to be that you are doctors,” he added.
Dr. Allan Were who spoke to Ghetto Radio News says that their NHIF cover has not been paid for the past six months.
“We don’t need an increment in salaries, we don’t need any favours. All we need is our insurance to be covered, the NHIF. That’s all we need and we are requesting the County Government of Nairobi to kindly consider because doctors are working in the counties without any form of insurance,” said Dr. Were.
Dr. Were says that they have been raising the issue for the past six months without any response.
“We have raised this issue. We have made a petition to the government and we have submitted documents and for the past six months nothing has been done whatsoever.
“It’s a great concern, we are losing doctors. We have doctors who are working 24/7 without any form of insurance cover and no any worker can do such kind of work,” said Dr. Were.
BY ALLAN OTIENO
