This archive report was first published on 1 August 2019.
According to a Kenya Health Service Delivery Indicator Report, a staggering 50% of doctors, nurses, and clinical officers in Kenyan hospitals are absent from their work stations on any given day.
The report, which covered 3,095 facilities across the country, found that doctors and nurses recorded the highest rates of absence at 60.7% and 49.5% respectively. Clinical Officers were also absent at a rate of 49.5%.
While the National Council for Population and Development director-general, Josephine Kibaru, attributed the absence to authorised leave granted by supervisors, the Kenya Medical Association Secretary General, Simon Kigondu, argued that leave should not be recorded as absenteeism.
Ms Kibaru noted that health workers, especially in urban areas, had been granted permission to advance their studies, attend training and seminars, or workshops without being replaced. However, she also acknowledged the need for employers to strike a balance between granting leave and ensuring quality services are offered to clients.
Published on August 1, 2019, the report highlights the challenges facing the Kenyan healthcare system and the need for effective solutions to address the issue of absenteeism among healthcare workers.
