Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha has asserted that medical interns should not be paid as they operate under supervision of professionals.

Speaking to KTN News on Wednesday evening, CS Nakhumicha opined that the Ministry only offers a platform for interns to attain work experience.

“Remuneration is given to employees by the employer. We are talking about interns here. They should be under the supervision of an experienced professional so we cannot be talking about their remuneration,” she added.

According to her, medical interns can work without any pay.

“I have about 50 interns who have called me and said ‘waziri all we need is a practising license’. They are willing to go for internship without any stipend so that they get their license.”

Health CS argued that these same interns will be knocking on her door one year later seeking employment, and that is when remuneration will be discussed.

She reiterated that interns will be posted by April 1 this year. Posting will begin today (Thursday, March 21).

This comes amid the ongoing medics’ strike for the seventh day in a row, as Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists’ Unions (KMPDU) seeks better terms for interns.

KMPDU Sec Gen Dr Davji Atellah blasted Health Ministry and  Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for slashing interns’ pay and allowances.

In a letter addressed to Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha from Salaries and Renumeration Commission, medical officer interns will earning a minimum stipend of KSh47,000 every month.

Pharmacists and dentists on internship will also be earning a minimum of KSh47,000 every month and a maximum of KSh70,000 per month.

According to another letter shared by KMPDU Sec Gen dated March 11, the minimum stipend agreed for medical officer interns was KSh50,000 not KSh47,000.

Health care workers’ strike intensified after eight more unions reportedly joined in.