Kenya Clinical Officers Protest Over Poor Working Conditions and Discriminatory Health Insurance Policies
“There is corruption in the system. We have doubled our contributions, yet our role as clinical officers is still undermined. The government is deliberately creating obstacles instead of solving the crisis,” he said.
Kenyan Clinical Officers Take to the Streets, Protesting Poor Working Conditions and Discriminatory Health Insurance Policies.
By Jessica Nyaboke
Clinical officers across Kenya took to the streets yesterday, demanding better working conditions and an end to discrimination in health insurance coverage. The protest, organized in response to mounting frustrations over the Selective Health Insurance Authority (SHA) policies, saw healthcare professionals decry what they termed as government neglect and corruption in the sector.
Speaking during the demonstration, George Kibore, a clinical officers’ representative, accused the government of failing in its duty to provide critical healthcare services.
“The government has abandoned its role in ensuring universal healthcare. Instead, SHA selectively authorizes treatment in some hospitals while sidelining others, denying Kenyans equal access to medical care,” Kibore stated.
Deterioration of Healthcare Access
Kibore lamented that before the introduction of SHA, Kenyans could seek treatment in any health facility using the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). However, since the shift, clinical officers and their services have been restricted mainly to Level Four and Level Five facilities, leaving many patients stranded.
“Six years ago, when we used NHIF, we could seek treatment anywhere. Now, clinical services are being discriminated against, limiting options for many Kenyans,” Kibore complained.
He further criticized the lack of focus on preventive healthcare, arguing that the government waits until citizens fall sick instead of investing in promotion and disease prevention measures.
“Instead of strengthening preventive healthcare, the government only acts when people get sick. We need more funds allocated to preventing diseases before they escalate,” he urged.
Disruptions in Health Facilities
Kibore also pointed to widespread service disruptions in hospitals, blaming the Health Ministry and SHA for creating artificial barriers that hinder service delivery.
“There is corruption in the system. We have doubled our contributions, yet our role as clinical officers is still undermined. The government is deliberately creating obstacles instead of solving the crisis,” he said.
Unfulfilled Government Promises
The clinical officers further accused the government of failing to implement agreements previously made to address their concerns.
“We thought our grievances would be resolved, but the government has ignored us. Clinical officers are highly trained professionals, yet our work is despised and undervalued,” Kibore lamented.
As the strike continues, clinical officers have vowed to hold further protests until their demands for fair treatment, better working conditions, and non-discriminatory health policies are met.
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