The ongoing strike by clinical officers, which began at the stroke of midnight on Monday, could be nearing its end after the Council of Governors made significant progress in addressing the issues that led to the industrial action.

In a press conference following a crucial meeting with Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Harry Kimutai, and officials from the Social Health Authority, the governors, who have been mediating the dispute, expressed optimism that the strike could soon be called off.

They confirmed that several of the critical concerns raised by the clinical officers have been resolved, and they urged the healthcare workers to return to their posts.

At the heart of the dispute was the clinical officers' demand for greater autonomy in the management of healthcare facilities.

They sought to have the facilities they oversee empanelled directly under the Clinical Officers Council within the Social Health Authority, rather than being forced to go through the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC).

Read More

  1. Ministry of Health calms fears over China's HMPV outbreak hitting Kenya
  2. Ministry of Health reveals grim statistics on undiagnosed illnesses across Kenya
  3. Kenya's tax burden is weighing heavy on economic growth - KNBS report reveals

clinical officers argued that the current system does not adequately address their needs and limits their professional oversight.

Furthermore, another issue that sparked tension was the restriction on pre-authorisation rights, which, under the new Social Health Authority regulations, are exclusively granted to doctors.

Clinical officers have long maintained that they should also be empowered to issue these pre-authorisations, particularly in the many level 1, 2, and 3 facilities where they perform a large number of duties.

A pivotal meeting held last Tuesday saw representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Clinical Officers Council, the Clinical Officers Union, and the Council of Governors come to a critical agreement.

It was decided that clinical officers should be authorised to perform certain tasks typically carried out by doctors, acknowledging the vital role they play in managing the majority of healthcare services in these community-level facilities.

However, Governor Muthomi Njuki, Chairperson of the Health Committee at the Council of Governors, emphasized that those granted pre-authorisation rights must bear responsibility for their actions.

“Anyone with the rights to pre-authorise should carry the heavy burden as it is their name that will have been registered in the digital health superhighway,” he said.

The governors are now calling on the clinical officers to return to work, with the understanding that their concerns have been heard and addressed.

They are hopeful that these steps towards resolution will lead to a swift end to the strike, allowing health services to resume smoothly.

The government’s commitment to improving the professional standing of clinical officers and ensuring their roles are recognised more fully within the healthcare system has been clearly demonstrated.

The hope is that with this breakthrough, clinical officers will feel their voices have been heard and their critical role in Kenya’s healthcare system has been affirmed.

The strike may soon be over, with the healthcare sector taking a major step toward a more balanced and equitable system of care.