This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
On June 12, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe renewed the bilateral agreement with Cuba for the deployment of 100 Cuban doctors in the counties. The deal was set to expire, but the government has chosen to continue it.
According to CS Kagwe, the ministry will review the specialization mix to better respond to the needs within the counties. This move aims to ensure that the continued services of the doctors in the counties are assured.
However, the arrival of the Cuban doctors two years ago was met with criticism from local medical professionals who feared that their jobs were at stake. Some of the doctors were more qualified than their local counterparts, sparking concerns over job security.
Many Kenyans have also expressed disappointment with the doctors' performance, with the chairman of Muslims for Human Rights, Khelef Khalifa, stating that they have been missing in action. Khalifa questioned the purpose of importing their services if they are not contributing to the fight against Covid-19.
Some of the doctors have fled from rural counties due to insecurity concerns, particularly the fear of kidnapping by Al-Shabaab in counties bordering Somalia. In April 2019, Al-Shabaab militants kidnapped doctors Landy Rodriquez and Herera Correa in Mandera town.
Due to the security challenges, the doctors have been provided with police officers to guard them. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union Coast branch Secretary, Dr. Abidan Mwachi, has expressed concerns over the value for money, stating that the doctors are being paid almost 10 times the salary of their local counterparts.
