KENYA ENDS CUBAN DOCTORS DEAL

The Kenyan government will not renew the 6-year contract signed with the Cuban doctors who have been working in the country since 2018. Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakumicha says Kenyan doctors are up to the task. “Our very own healthcare professionals are committed to the cause,” she said.

The Kenyan-Cuban doctors agreement was signed in 2017. Under the exchange program, 100 Cuban specialist doctors were deployed to Kenyan hospitals, while 50 Kenyan doctors traveled to Cuba for specialized training.

Nakumicha made the announcement at the opening of the Pre-National Human Resources for Health Dialogue meeting.

Acknowledging the multifaceted challenges facing healthcare workers, including training, welfare, performance management, safety, and mobility, the government is leveraging collaborative efforts to identify pragmatic solutions through ongoing dialogues.

“In recognition of the complexity of healthcare policy and the need for a centralized coordinating mechanism, the Kenyan Health Human Resource Advisory Council (KHHRAC) was established under the Health Act of 2017, filling a crucial gap in HRH coordination,”, said Nakhumicha.

The event brought together a diverse group of healthcare professionals, signaling the beginning of a series of dialogues aimed at enhancing the development and management of the country’s healthcare workforce.