KMPDU Raises Alarm Over Use of Foreign Doctors as Cheap Labour

The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has accused some private hospitals of hiring foreign doctors as cheap labour while ignoring qualified Kenyan professionals, a move the union says violates labour and immigration laws.

In a statement released on Thursday, January 8, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah said some hospitals are paying doctors salaries below the rates set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Atellah described the practice as modern-day slavery, saying it has denied many Kenyan doctors job opportunities. He noted that more than 3,000 foreign doctors have been licensed to practise in Kenya over the past three years, not because of a shortage of skills, but because they are easier to exploit.

“For too long, the medical profession in Kenya has been treated as a business opportunity at the expense of dignity, ethics and the law. That era is over,” Atellah said.

The union welcomed recent remarks by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who said the government will reduce the hiring of foreign doctors and give priority to Kenyan-trained health professionals.

Duale directed that Kenyan doctors, nurses, clinical officers and specialists will now be prioritised for licensing and employment. He said the government has invested heavily in training local health workers and they should be given the first chance to serve Kenyans.

The Health CS added that the policy follows international best practice, noting that no country can build a strong health system by relying mainly on foreign workers.

However, Duale clarified that the directive will not apply to citizens of East African Community (EAC) countries, in line with regional agreements.

He also said foreign doctors will now be assessed on a case-by-case basis and will only be licensed in highly specialised areas where Kenya lacks local expertise.

KMPDU also raised concerns over violations of immigration laws, which require proof that a skill is not available locally before a foreign professional is licensed.

The union warned hospitals against underpaying Kenyan doctors and urged all employers to follow SRC and CBA guidelines.

Atellah announced that KMPDU will begin a nationwide enforcement campaign in both public and private hospitals to ensure compliance and restore the dignity of doctors.