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{
    "id": 1520066,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1520066/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 57,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Runyenjes, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Muchangi Karemba",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(c), I wish to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health regarding the employment terms of nurses under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme. In June 2020, the Public Service Commission employed approximately 2,700 nurses on contractual terms to serve in hospitals and strengthen health service delivery under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme. However, despite performing similar duties as their counterparts on permanent and pensionable terms, UHC nurses receive significantly lower salaries and do not receive allowances such as nursing service allowance, health risk allowance and hardship allowance. This disparity in remuneration contravenes the principle of “ equal payfor equal work ” as stipulated in Section 5(5) of the Employment Act, Cap. 226. Hon. Speaker, on 3rd August 2021, the Public Service Commission (PSC) issued a circular committing to harmonise the terms of contract workers with the intention of transitioning them to permanent and pensionable employment. However, up to date, UHC nurses have not been absorbed into the service. Notably, their contracts lapsed in June 2023 and the Ministry of Health renewed them for a further one year. There is need to finalise the process of their absorption into permanent and pensionable terms without undue delay to ensure continued service delivery within the healthcare system. Hon. Speaker, it is against this background that I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health on the following: 1. A comprehensive report on the measures taken by the Ministry of Health to address the disparities in remuneration and allowances between UHC nurses and those on permanent and pensionable terms. 2. Update on the consultations between the Ministry of Health, the Public Service Commission and county governments regarding the conversion of the UHC contract nurses to permanent and pensionable terms. 3. Specific timelines for the absorption of UHC nurses into permanent and pensionable terms as well as details on the number of nurses already absorbed. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}