Health cabinet secretary Susan Nakhumicha, [Photo: Kenya News Agency]
Health Cabinet secretary Susuan Nakhumicha was been grilled by the senate on the government move to curtail travel of specialized workers who find greener pastures overseas.
The senate argues it is selfish for the health ministry to put policies that draw back specialized workers to work in foreign nations, a move that will create employment for fresh graduates.
According to the senate, many medical graduates are sitting idle without employment.
In her submission to the floor, CS Susan Nakhumicha said the country might lose a rich work force by allowing the specialized go to foreign nations.
”If the state lose specialized workers to immigration it will jeopardize the health sector since it takes a lot of time to train new medics. Releasing specialized workers means losing trainers of medical students,” she submitted
She also distanced herself from the blame that the emigration policy stems from her ministry but the labor and social protection docket.
“The migration policy is a national policy that stems from the social and labor protection docket. For health workers we have given specific recommendation to the shapers of the policy on the same.”
Senator Sifuna also observed that the policy had left out inputs from the Kenya medical practitioners and dentist union.
KMPDU was not factored in the policy, CS Nakhumicha defending that they are part of it and that the Kenya medical Association takes care of the welfare of medics.