The management of Nairobi Hospital has assured the public of smooth operations, urging stakeholders to ignore reports of strike even as doctors issue notice stopping new admission of patients.

This was after doctors at Nairobi Hospital, announced a strike, halting new patient admissions from midnight on September 16, 2024, to push for the resignation of the hospital’s board of management.

The Admitting Staff Association, representing the dissenting doctors, had detailed their grievances in a public notice.

The Kenya Hospital Association (KHA), which manages Nairobi Hospital, is central to this dispute.

At the same time, KHA has called for an extraordinary general meeting to address the crisis scheduled for September 18 at a hotel in Nairobi. 

This meeting is expected to be a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict at the health facility. Their action is framed as part of a larger effort to address what they describe as a governance crisis within the hospital’s board.

Despite the doctors’ announcement, the hospital’s management has dismissed the strike notice, asserting that operations are running smoothly.

The administration’s message on their official X account seeks to reassure patients and stakeholders that services will continue as usual and to minimize the perceived impact of the doctors’ planned strike.

However, the doctors assured the public that emergency cases, ongoing ward treatments, and private clinic appointments will continue.

The doctors had raised significant dissatisfaction with the current leadership and reflect deep-seated concerns about the quality and sustainability of healthcare services at Nairobi Hospital.

The resolution of this conflict could have far-reaching implications for the hospital’s operations and its ability to deliver quality healthcare in the future. 

The situation is a critical test for both the KHA and the Nairobi Hospital management, as they navigate through this challenging period.

Written by Rose Mutuku