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{
"id": 263428,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/263428/?format=api",
"text_counter": 220,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Prof. Anyang’-Nyong’o",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Medical Services",
"speaker": {
"id": 193,
"legal_name": "Peter Anyang' Nyong'o",
"slug": "peter-nyongo"
},
"content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity to deliver this Statement. This Statement regards the strike threat by members of the Kenya Health Professional Society Workers (KHPS in the public health sector. It is important that the nation as well as the House be enlightened on this issue as indeed health matters are extremely important. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Health Professional Society is the umbrella body pursuing welfare interests of most health workers in the country. It is not a trade union. It is a society. On the 9th of February 2012, the KHPS issued a 21 day strike notice to the Ministry of Medical Services. The notice was given on account of grievances touching on the manner of payment of extraneous allowances to the various health workers. The 21 days notice will expire on the 29th day of February this year. Mr. Speaker, Sir, prior to the notice it should be noted that the two health Ministries had met representatives of the society on the 1st December 2011 and after extensive discussions agreed as follows:- (i)The Health Ministries will consult with other Government agencies with a view to enhancing the basic salary for all health workers to the next grade with effect from the 1st of July 2012. (ii)That discussion of review of house allowance will await the report of a housing survey to be conducted by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The KNBS report which is expected to be ready by March 2012 would inform the Ministry of State for Public Service on the cost of House rents and form the basis for review of house allowances in the public service. (iii)That the Health Ministries would consider paying all the Members of the KHPS a uniform extraneous allowance of Kshs15, 000 per month effective July 2012. (iv)That the Health Ministries will consider paying health workers a monthly hardship allowance of Kshs10,000 for extreme hardship areas and Kshs5,000 for moderate hardship areas regardless of grade and marital status with effect from July 2012. (v)That payment of risk allowance should be extended to all health workers who hitherto had not benefited with effect from December 2011 and that the Health Ministries would seek to procure a risk cover for all health workers which should cover all risks involved. (vi)That consultation be initiated by the Health Ministries with a view to pay KHPS members a non-practicing allowance. A report of the discussion be ready by March 2012. (vii)That the society be involved in discussions on the proposed medical insurance cover for civil servants. (viii)That nurses uniform allowance should continue being paid annually through the payroll. That the recommendation on nurses’ uniform by the Nurses Grievances Task Force of 2008 be implemented. (ix)That the uniform allowances for nutritionists be improved and paid through the payroll while other cadre should be provided with protective clothing. (x)That health workers be considered for emergency call allowance with effect from July 2012. (xi)That discussions aimed at paying all interns an internship allowance be conducted be conducted by March, 2012. (xii)That all vacant positions be advertised for filing as early as possible. (xiii)That outstanding promotion cases be fast tracked as a part of a rapid result initiative. Mr. Speaker, Sir, prior to these agreements the doctors, pharmacists and dentists who were initially part of the larger group of dissatisfied health workers walked out of the negotiations opting to pursue their grievances under the auspices of Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPPDU). Following the walk out, the Government negotiated separately with the union and reached agreement which was communicated by the Ministry of State for Public Service through a circular Ref. No. MSPS/2/1/3A vol.3 (77) dated 12th January 2012 providing as follows:- (i)That doctors, pharmacists and dentists including clinical officers, anesthetists be paid monthly extraneous allowance in two phases at ranges ranging from Kshs30,000 to Kshs40,000. The first phase was payable from December 2012 and the second phase being paid from July 2012. (ii)That all doctors, pharmacists and dentists deployed in hospitals be paid a monthly emergency call allowance of Kshs30,000 with effect from December 2012. In addition, the Government provided Kshs200 million to the two Health Ministries to offset pending bills on training and the balance to be utilized for the training of health workers. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in line with the agreement reached with the KHPS the Government has paid phase I extraneous allowance to members of the society as follows:- (i)Kshs3,500 to Kshs15,000 to those in urban areas. (ii)Kshs5,000 to Kshs17,500 for those in rural areas. (iii)Kshs7,500 to Kshs20,000 to those in hardship areas. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it should be noted that the Government paid these allowances to this cadre of health workers well in advance of the agreed date of July 2012. The Government has further implemented the following:- (i)Paid uniform allowance for nurses for 2011 through the December 2011 payroll. (ii)Vacant positions were advertised on daily newspapers on 3rd of February 2012 for promotion of serving officers. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in doing the above, the Government will spend approximately Kshs6 billion to address the grievances of doctors, pharmacists, dentists and other health workers. The financial implications of these commitments to health workers have been factored in the revised estimates for the 2011/2012 financial year and MTEF for 2012/2013. In this regard, I wish to enlist the support of the House in ensuring that funds are secured for this purpose. I wish to clarify that extraneous allowance was paid at differentiated rates on the advice of the Ministry of State for Public Service. During our discussions, we clarified to the health workers that demands on salary increments can only be handled by the Public Service Salary and Remuneration Commission which is now operational. Discussions on the issue of risk cover for health workers previously held with the Ministry of State for Public Service are ongoing. At the time of discussion with the society, procurement of the medical insurance scheme for civil servants was at an advanced stage and was subsequently awarded before the end of December 2012. Mr. Speaker, Sir, notwithstanding the fact that the society is not a trade union and therefore has no authority to call a strike, the two Health Ministries met its representatives on the 15th of February 2012 to try and avert the strike. During the meeting discussions on contentious and pending issues were held with the Ministries clarifying the status of implementation. However, no agreement was reached at the time. Instead the teams agreed to consult within themselves before holding further consultations. Despite the challenges the two Ministries face in meeting the demands of the society, we remain open for discussions. I am actively exploring possibilities of averting the strike through consultations with the other Government agency and the society. We anticipate that an amicable and lasting solution acceptable to all parties will be arrived at soon."
}