KMPDU Boss Regrets Universal Healthcare Still Unattainable 10 Years After Devolution

• Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atellah said the country needs to do a lot to achieve universal healthcare
• According to the KMPDU boss, the government needs to start viewing healthcare as an investment and not as a recurrent issue
• Atellah regretted that county governments have been unable to handle the healthcare function properly.

Nairobi - The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Davji Atellah has said there was nothing much to celebrate about universal healthcare 10 years since the start of devolution.

In a statement, the KMPDU boss said the county governments have only been struggling with the management of healthcare resources but have very little to show for it.

KMPDU speaks about 10 years of devolution

According to Davji, county governments have been unable to handle the healthcare function properly.

“Over the past 10 years, the impact of devolution on healthcare in Kenya has been a subject of scrutiny. County governments struggle with resources and capacity to effectively manage the health sector,” stated Davji.

The KMPDU boss argued that nothing will be realised unless the government changes its tact in the management of the healthcare system.

He pointed out that government should start viewing healthcare as an investment and not "a recurrent expenditure".

“Universal healthcare remains a pipe dream unless the government start treating healthcare as an investment rather than a recurrent expenditure with a strong focus on employment of healthcare workers.” he added.

Why doctors want Health Service Commission

Earlier, the doctors demanded the formation of a Health Service Commission (HSC), which will harness the deployment of critical personnel and get their synergy in the sector right.

The medics said a reflection on the decade-long Health has been under the counties established that the sector has been worsening ever since.

"KMPDU believes that an honest audit of the status of the Kenyan Health Sector 10 years into devolution will reach one conclusion, the need for a body akin to the Health Services Commission to harness the deployment of critical personnel and to get our synergy in the sector right to keep building on our few strengths as we tackle the many emerging challenges," said KMPDU secretary general Davji Bhimji.