The nationwide strike by medical practitioners across the country entered its third week amid talks with both the national and county governments regarding the implementation of the 2017/2022 Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA) on increased remuneration of the medics.

The strike has since caused insufferable pain to members of the public who continue to lack care at deserted public medical facilities countrywide.

In a rallying call to medical interns, Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has called upon them to collect their internship letters as from Thursday, April 4, 2024, and report to work by Thursday, April 11.

"I am calling on all the interns; Medical Officer Intern, Pharmacists Intern, Dental Officer Intern, Nursing Officer Intern(Degree), Clinical Officer Intern( BSCCM), Clinical Officer Intern (Diploma) to pick the internship letters and report to their respective stations within the next 7 days," she said.

PS Muthoni further announced that the posting letters for all graduate officer interns will also be available for collection from April 4. This includes interns from the following cadres: Medical Officer Intern, Pharmacist Intern, Dental Officer Intern, Nursing Officer Intern (Degree), and Clinical Officer Intern (BSCCM).

The letters are to be collected from Afya House, 3rd Floor.

On Tuesday, Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei announced that the government had set aside Ksh2.4 billion to facilitate the posting of all eligible medical interns.

The announcement by PS Muthoni comes a day after Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) boss Devji Attellah urged interns to shun the letters, arguing that the union was not involved in the negotiations that let up to the determination.

“Our absence on the negotiating table despite furtive efforts to address the pertinent and perennial problems that have plagued our nation's health discredits the entire process. Additionally, the omission of a return-to-work formula with documented and legally binding commitment to the resolutions of our official submission is not only questionable but also a clear sign of the government's decision to dishonour its promises,” Atellah said in a letter dated Wednesday, April 3.

The KMPDU boss reiterated that the interns would not collect the letters until their demands as medics are met in totality. 

“Referring to them as 'medical student interns' is misleading to the public, and belies the pivotal role these illustrious employees perform in the health sector. Contravening the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and subjecting our healthcare workers to a 70-91 % pay cut is unlawful, punitive, and a gross violation of the global, regional, and national labour laws,” Atellah added.

“Until our demands are met, and the 2017 CBA implemented, the letters mentioned above will not be picked, and will be treated with the contempt and deference they deserve.”