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{
    "id": 498613,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/498613/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 303,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Nabwala",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13116,
        "legal_name": "Catherine Mukiite Nabwala",
        "slug": "catherine-mukiite-nabwala"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to add my voice on this important Motion concerning the shortage of doctors in our counties. We know that health is a devolved function and most of the responsibilities lie with the counties to ensure that health facilities are functioning. However, they are facing challenges. One challenge is that when doctors were transferred, there should have been wide consultations between the Kenya Medical Dentists and Practitioners’ Board (KMDPB) which is a body that regulates and works closely with doctors. Doctors feel insecure working in the counties. The reason they feel so is because of training. In the past, we know that the national Government was responsible for training of doctors. They have also been trained in many other courses outside the country. So, when a doctor is transferred to a county, particularly in the remote areas, those facilities are not there. Most hospitals in the counties are ill-equipped. They do not have facilities for dialysis and no medicine. If we transfer a highly qualified doctor to a county who would maybe like to use his skills to help the patients but then you find that the facilities are not there. So these doctors are not really challenged; that is why you find that most of them seek greener pastures elsewhere. Mr. Temporary Speaker, sir, in terms of remuneration, when the doctors were transferred from the national Government to the county governments, this should have been made clear so that when you go to the county government, you know at what level you are going to serve the county. These doctors serve in various job groups at the national Government whereas in the counties, we do not have those particular structures. So this is a challenge to the doctors. Kenya, as country is already facing a shortage of doctors as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. This is one issue that I think the national Government and the county governments should work closely together to sort out because the migration of doctors from counties is making patients suffer. Devolution was meant to move services closer to the people and if we cannot deliver services as doctors, then we are not helping the people in the counties. Our own people are really suffering. Therefore, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is very important that the doctors’ issues are addressed by both the county and the national governments with the involvement of all the stakeholders, like health professional bodies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and development partners."
}