Local News
Kenyan Doctors in Cuba get Return Tickets for their Summer Holiday
As part of reforms to the State-sponsored training for Kenyan doctors in Canada, the government has offered return tickets to the 48 medics’ during their travel for their August summer break. However, the the dates of travel will be based on air tickets available.
The reforms to offer a return ticket come amid reports that the Kenyan Medics are struggling to cope with life in Central America.
The government is also expected to pay a total of Sh138 million in stipends for the 48 doctors.
Last year, the doctors had requested return tickets every year like their Cuban counterparts in Kenya, but were informed that they were not entitled to it. The reforms to the study plan, which also saw Kenya hire 100 Cuban doctors despite opposition from a doctors union, was triggered by suicide of a Kenyan doctor in Cuba.
The Kenyan doctors went to Canada after a training deal was signed between the two governments during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit to Havana in March 2018. The aim of the deal was meant to develop a pool of much-needed skills in the ailing Kenyan healthcare sector.
The deal saw 100 Cuban doctors come to Kenya, of which 47 work as specialists while 53 family physicians were deployed to the counties. In turn, Kenya secured space for its 50 doctors to study in Cuba, famed for its world-class healthcare system. Out of the 50, one Dr Hamisi Ali Juma died early this year on suicide.
At the beginning of this year, the doctors complained of high cost of living which prompted the Ministry of health had send a team to Cuba on a fact finding mission. The team found out that cost of living there was relatively expensive. After this report, the health ministry enhanced allowances from the then Sh50,000 to Sh144,000 monthly effective April this year.
