Narok Patients Seek Private Care Amid Ongoing Doctors’ Strike

NAROK, Kenya – As the doctors’ strike enters its sixth day, patients in need of specialized medical services at Narok County Referral Hospital are increasingly turning to private facilities. The strike has significantly disrupted healthcare services, prompting those who can afford it to seek alternatives, while others rely on limited care available in public hospitals or go without needed treatment.

According to Kenya News Agency, there is a noticeable influx of patients at private hospitals due to the absence of doctors in public health facilities. Many patients, especially those requiring specialized care, find themselves with no option but to turn to these private entities, facing potentially higher medical costs.

An internal memo from the hospital, authored by Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Imbusi, confirmed that specialist clinics at Narok County Referral Hospital would be suspended indefinitely. The document detailed that only emergency cases are currently being admitted, and no referrals from other facilities are being accepted. Additionally, patients in need of elective surgical procedures across various specializations are also facing delays and are not being admitted at any county hospital.

The strike, led by the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU), is rooted in several demands directed at the Ministry of Health, including the assignment of medical interns to hospitals and compliance with the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement. KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah has stated that the strike will persist until these conditions are met.

Despite the impasse, negotiations between union representatives and the Ministry of Health are underway, with stakeholders expressing hope for a swift resolution that will allow healthcare services to resume and address the needs of patients across Narok County and the nation.