The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has lauded the government’s decision to terminate the contracts of Cuban doctors who have been working in the country since 2018.
KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah noted that the government's funds on employing the few foreign medics could have been enough to put hundreds of their Kenyan counterparts in employment.
“KMPDU lauds the non-renewal of the Cuban contract. The cost of employing the 150 Cubans is enough to employ 500 Kenyan doctors. The government should now employ Kenyan doctors urgently,” he said.
This comes after Health Cabinet Secretary Wafula Nakumicha revealed on Wednesday the decision not to renew the Cuban medics program because she is confident that Kenyan doctors are up to the task.
"As a ministry, I am confident that we will have a highly motivated workforce. Our very own healthcare professionals are committed to the cause,” she stated.
Did you read this?
KMPDU has long been advocating for the termination of the Kenya-Cuba partnership deal, which its leadership – in the past – termed as a “waste of human resources.”
Dr. Atellah, in March this year, told a Senate committee that the scope of practicing medicine in both countries is worlds apart.
Hence, the exchange program was unreasonable as numerous factors would come into play.
He stated that Cuban doctors brought to the country were remunerated better at the expense of their Kenyan counterparts, whom he claimed offered better services.
Further, the foreign medics also needed Kenyan clinicians to accompany them during their duties due to the aspect of language barrier.
