The state intends to hire 20,000 medical personnel to fill the gap between the recommended doctor-to-nurse-to-midwife ratios (WHO).

The hiring of the health professionals will take place over a three-year period, according to Susan Nakhumicha, the health cabinet's secretary, subject to the availability of the Sh21 billion needed by the ministry to hire them.

County health centers

According to Ms. Nakhumicha, the medics would be placed in county hospitals as part of a plan to achieve universal health coverage, which is expected to go into effect later this year.

In Kenya, there were 189,932 health professionals in total as of 2020, with 66% working for the government and 58%, 13%, and 7% being nurses, clinical officers, and physicians, respectively.

The recommended health worker density ratio, as defined by the WHO, is 23 physicians, nurses, and midwives for every 10,000 people.

However, statistics indicates that there are currently 13 doctors, nurses, and midwives for every 10,000 inhabitants in Kenya.

The required Number

The data also reveals that there is a 3,238 medical officer shortage in the nation, but at least 5,317 are needed.

In addition, there is a shortage of 2,313 consultants, 1,070 dentists, 4,614 public health officers, 1,020 pharmacists, 4,167 pharmaceutical technicians, 3,970 specialty clinical officers, and 9,301 general clinical officers.

Enhance services

The state's intention to increase the number of healthcare workers comes as the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has been urging counties and the national government to hire 5,000 doctors to fill a vacuum and improve services.

Kenyans' access to high-quality healthcare has been hampered, according to KMPDU's statement from last month.

The medical professionals also bemoaned the lack of medical infrastructure, supplies, and personnel that plagues most healthcare facilities.

Utilizing tools
A strike by doctors had been threatened for January 6, and among their demands were basic wage modifications, call rooms, the posting of medical interns, the hiring of more doctors, and the provision of working gear.