The raging health sector crisis has put counties under a severe test in their handling of this devolved function. Countrywide strikes by medical workers have literally brought public healthcare to a standstill.
Health services remain crippled by strikes by nurses, clinical officers and other specialised cadres. These has left patients stranded across more than 20 counties, triggering sharp disputes between the county governments and the national administration.
It has been more than two months since the Health Union Caucus served the counties with a demand notice. The caucus says that, despite their willingness to negotiate with the governors for the sake of the patients, they have continued to ignore them. Last month, the unions issued a 14-day strike notice, which lapsed without any response from the governors.
Healthcare workers are accusing county governments of mismanaging the sector and want the health function returned to the national government to end the recurring strikes and improve service delivery. They are convinced that the devolved units are blocking efforts to improve healthcare services.
The core grievances include failure by the authorities to fully implement the 2017 Return-to-Work formula and pending collective bargaining agreements with the unions. Another sticking issue is the demand for permanent and pensionable terms for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) interns and staff. There are also unresolved job group disparities, delayed promotions, and demands for revised allowances.
The Council of Governors (CoG) and the Ministry of Health have just been trading barbs, with the governors accusing the latter of inciting workers, but the unions are calling out both for failing to honour labour terms. The persistent health sector paralysis highlights systemic flaws in managing the devolved health function.
This has left public health facilities deserted and vulnerable patients without basic medical care. Counties should negotiate with the striking medics’ unions to end the stalemate. A functional public health system should be prioritised, as access to affordable quality healthcare is a constitutional right.
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