Government lauded for not renewing contracts of Cuban doctors

By Peter Ochieng

President William Ruto's administration has been lauded for not renewing contracts of Cuban doctors in the country.

Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah applauded the government for the move.

Over 100 Cuban doctors have been in the country since 2018.

Atellah said the funds that would have been used to pay the Cuban doctors should now be redirected into employing their Kenyan counterparts.

"The cost of employing the 150 Cubans is enough to employ 500 Kenyan doctors. The government should now employ Kenyan doctors urgently,” he said.

Initially, he expressed his reservations against continued stay of the Cuban doctors in the country.

“This was a waste of human resources. They were being housed by the counties, paid triple Kenyan doctor salaries and given a driver and security discriminatively against the Kenyan doctors offering better services."

On Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Health Susan Nakhumicha said the government had decided against renewing the contracts of Cuban doctors, because of her confidence that the Kenyan doctors are competent enough to offer quality healthcare services to Kenyans.

The CS said she believes the government's move will motivate Kenyan doctors.

"As a ministry, I am confident that we will have a highly motivated workforce. Our very own healthcare professionals are committed to the cause."

“On that note, I am pleased to announce that we shall not be renewing the agreement for the Cuban doctors because I want to believe that our very own are going to be committed to the course.”

Kenya signed a health agreement with Cuba in 2017 that led to exchange programme where Cuban doctors would come into the country to help fill the gap in county hospitals, while Kenyan doctors were sent to Cuba for specialized training.