Health Crisis Deepens as Doctor Strike Empties Public Hospitals in Kenya

Nairobi, Kenya-The ongoing doctor strike in Kenya has left many public hospitals like Kihara Level 4 Hospital on the outskirts of Nairobi largely unattended, with essential services including emergency surgeries on hold due to lack of medical personnel. At Kihara, only three of the labor ward’s dozen beds are occupied, as the hospital is unable to perform Caesarean sections without doctors.

This strike, now entering its second month, is part of a nationwide protest by doctors demanding better pay and the hiring of trainee doctors, essential for their qualification. The strike has rendered public hospitals eerily silent, places once bustling with activity now stand empty, forcing patients to seek expensive care in private hospitals or face worsening health outcomes.

Davji Bhimji, secretary-general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU), argues that the strike aims to secure quality healthcare in the long term by addressing the inadequate working conditions and lack of necessary equipment which, he claims, currently leaves medical staff “just there to supervise death.”

The strike’s impact is profound. Lucy Bright Mbugua told the BBC her baby, needing constant medical attention, now sees a doctor only twice a week at Kenyatta National Hospital, as opposed to daily. Her plight is worsened by the lack of available medications, echoing the desperation felt by many.

The tragic consequences of the strike include lost lives. One woman recounted her sister-in-law losing her unborn child after being turned away from Nairobi’s main referral hospital due to the strike, with a private hospital also unable to save the baby in time.

Meanwhile, the government has made an offer, which President William Ruto urged the striking doctors to accept, emphasizing that the country must manage its resources prudently. However, the doctors have rejected the government’s terms, which include a significant pay cut for interns compared to a 2017 agreement.

The strike has also seen clinical officers joining the fray, threatening to paralyze healthcare further, especially in rural areas where they are critical to outpatient services.

Amid escalating tensions, some county governments have threatened to dismiss striking doctors, exacerbating the crisis. Public sentiment is a mix of sympathy for the doctors’ plight and frustration at the ongoing disruption in healthcare services.

The KMPDU maintains that the government’s lack of engagement in meaningful negotiations is a core issue, while calls grow louder for both sides to return to the negotiating table to resolve a standoff that could potentially extend for months, reminiscent of the 2017 strike that lasted nearly 100 days.

As the deadlock continues, the public, especially those unable to afford private care, remains caught in the crossfire, with many turning to faith and community support in the face of a healthcare system in crisis.