The number of Cuban doctors working in Kenya is set to rise in a bid to achieve the much touted Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the country. According to the Ministry of Health, Kenya has a deficit of health workers in counties where UHC has been piloted. Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said of the decision to bring in more medics:
“We need to be innovative and if it means we bring in more medics then we shall. We will however engage the union and not just the doctors but all cadres on the matter……”
The medics will be tasked with implementing the malaria vector control project using biolarvicides in eight counties in Western Kenya. In addition to the medics, Kenya will absorb an unknown number of researchers from Cuba who will develop joint projects with Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).
Currently, Kenya has 100 Cuban medics; 47 who work as specialists with the remainder working as family physicians in counties.
Benefits Cuban doctors enjoy in Kenya
Apart from the hefty salaries, Cuban medics are offered furnished homes, air fares for holidays, transport and paid utilities.
Salary of Cuban Doctors
Cuban doctors earn a pittance in their country. While the socialist country prides itself with one of the best government run health care systems, doctors take home USD67 a month. Interestingly, if not sad, waiters, tour guides and cabdrivers make 10 to 20 times more money than doctors and nurses courtesy of tips from tourists.
Salary of Cuban medics in Kenya
The agreement signed between the governments of Kenya and Cuba places the100 medics working in Kenya in Job Group S. This means a Cuban doctor salary is way above that of parliamentarians, principal secretaries, inspector general of police and the army commander. His take home per month is kes882,180.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), led by their secretary general Dr Ouma Oluga, faulted the government for giving the foreign doctors a lucrative deal than the one they were given in the 2017 CBA.
Dr Olunga said of the CBA:
“According to the terms contained in the CBA, our specialist doctors should have been placed in Job Group S and T, but they have been put in M, N and P. This is quite discriminative and grossly unfair to our medics…”
“Our doctors are expected to work between 55 to 96 hours a week against the 40 hours a week the Cubans will be expected to work and yet they still earn a fraction of the expatriates’ salary and allowances. This is clearly unfair,” he went on to say.