Patients die in Coast General Hospital as health strike rages on

Three patients died on Sunday at the Coast General Hospital as the strike by health workers in Mombasa County rages on.

A health official at the facility was reported to have said that 10 other patients at the hospital were in critical condition due to lack of medical care while some patients had to pay doctors from private clinics to treat them at the hospital.

One patient involved in a road accident in Ukunda, Kwale County, was to be taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) but he had to spend the night in the emergency ward due to lack of health personnel.

Relatives, who had visited the hospital, were shocked to find their patients unattended. They expressed dissatisfaction with the government which is currently engrossed in referendum politics, while Kenyans are suffering.

Last week, the doctors union advised its members who are yet to receive their July salaries to stay away from work following the expiry of their strike notice on August 4.

Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union Deputy Secretary General Abidan Mwachi noted that many doctors were resigning due to pay delays. Dr Mwachi accused the government of not disbursing funds for their salaries in time and not taking healthcare concerns seriously. He noted that about 200 doctors resign every month while only 700 are hired a year.

He pointed out maternity and theatre departments at the Coast General Hospital would be hardest hit if nurses, gynecologists and anaesthetists if the government failed to address the standoff.

County governments have blamed the salary delays on budgetary constraints at the national level.