The Ministry of Health has announced the successful disbursement of stipends and arrears totaling Ksh 965,875,345.60 to medical interns across the country. The payments cover nursing officer interns, clinical officer interns, medical officer interns, and pharmacist interns, marking a key milestone in supporting healthcare professionals at the start of their careers.
In a statement released on Saturday, November 30, 2024, the Ministry outlined that the disbursement includes Ksh 528,615,125.60 in arrears and Ksh 110,668,070 in regular payments for nursing and clinical officer interns. Additionally, Ksh 326,592,150 was paid in arrears to medical officer interns, dental officer interns, and pharmacist interns.
The Ministry emphasized that all posted interns in the specified cadres have received their dues in full, ensuring timely compensation.
Breakdown of Interns Paid:
- Medical Officer Interns: 826 (Degree)
- Pharmacist Interns: 274 (Degree)
- Dentists: 71 (Degree)
- Clinical Officer Interns: 140 (Degree)
- Nursing Officer Interns: 1,185 (Degree)
- Clinical Officer Interns: 1,251 (Diploma)
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to addressing the welfare of healthcare workers, acknowledging the critical role of internship programs in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
“By ensuring timely remuneration, the Ministry affirms its commitment to fostering a conducive environment for professional growth, thereby enhancing the quality of care delivered to Kenyans,” the statement read.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atellah on Wednesday said the government has had seven months to implement the agreed salary scales but has failed to do so.
The doctors have vowed that this time round, they will not embrace the spirit of dialogue.
“We are saying this without any fear of contradiction that when we call strike nobody should come to us and sell to us the aspect of goodwill or the aspect of negotiation because seven months is far too long for somebody to keep on making promises.
“It will be time to implement the agreements that were signed and adopted as court orders.”
Atellah said the announcement will be made on November 30 during the national delegates conference at the Safari Park hotel, Nairobi.
The conference will bring together doctors from the public and private sectors with the sole agenda to issue a national strike to ask the government to honour its side of the bargain, Atellah said.
The Ministry also expressed gratitude to the interns for their dedication to service delivery in healthcare facilities nationwide, noting their pivotal contribution to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and advancing Kenya’s healthcare agenda.
To prevent future challenges, the Ministry assured stakeholders of ongoing negotiations with healthcare unions to finalize Collective Bargaining Agreements in compliance with the law and court directives.
Interns with queries about their payments have been encouraged to reach out to their respective departments for assistance.
