Susan Nakhumicha Says Medical Interns Are Nobody's Employees: "They Remain as Students"

 

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakumicha has taken a firm stand over posting medical interns in the country. Susan Nakhumicha said medical interns are overpaid. r Speaking on KTN News on Wednesday, March 20, Nakhumicha dismissed the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the Ministry of Health and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU) regarding the remuneration of interns. Why CS Susan Nakhumicha is unhappy with the 2017 CBA According to Nakhumicha, medical interns should not have been included in the CBA as they are not employees.  Nakhumicha said medical interns do not deserve the hefty pay contained in the 2017 CBA because they are on a learning mission. "Remuneration is given to an employee by an employer. We cannot speak about remuneration for interns. They should be learning. They remain as students. We must discuss the staffing of human resources in health facilities. A CBA is an agreement between an employer and employees…. interns are not employees. Treasury has said we should consider an unpaid internship," Nakhumicha said. She added that her proposed stipend of KSh 50,000 is fair, arguing that currently, medical interns are overpaid, yet they do not have a valid practising license. 

BY TUKO NEWS