The government has revoked the contracts of Cuban doctors, six years after signing an agreement with the country’s authorities in 2017.
Announcing the move on Wednesday, Health Minister Susan Nakhumicha said she is confident that Kenyan doctors have the same dedication as their Cuban counterparts.
“The ministry will not re-sign the contract with Cuban doctors. I believe our doctors themselves have the same spirit of sincere dedication,” said minister Nakhumicha.
While acknowledging the various challenges facing health workers at the national and local levels, the minister said the government has taken steps to ensure doctors receive appropriate training and their interests are addressed.
“We are aware that health workers at the national and county levels are facing many challenges when carrying out their duties. The challenges are many and vary from training, development, employee interest and professional growth, performance management and motivation, safety and employee interest, transportation, including inter-county transfers, and government standards.
“However, despite the ordeal, health workers have continued to volunteer to serve Kenyans,” she said.
The minister said this at the official opening ceremony of the two-day National Debate on Health Workers workshop held at the Windsor Golf and Country Club Hotel in Nairobi.
The event precedes the National Health Workforce Debate Conference to be held next week on October 18 in Kericho County.
The move to cut off contracts with Cuban doctors came a month after MPs joined the governors and the National Union of Doctors and Health Professionals in the country (KMPDU) to push for the cancellation of agreements between Kenya and Cuba.
The Health Committee in the National Assembly argued that health officials from Cuba have fulfilled their purpose, and the time has come for them to leave the country and have their contracts terminated.