Kenya’s doctors, through the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), have voiced strong opposition to a government proposal that would prevent doctors from approving insurance claims during official working hours.
The union warned that enforcing the policy could spark legal challenges and industrial action, arguing it would negatively affect service delivery.
The government has framed the plan as a measure to reduce conflicts of interest, curb misuse of public service time, and contain rising healthcare insurance costs.
CS Aden Duale, however, singled out some doctors for allegedly diverting patients from public hospitals to private facilities, noting inefficiencies in hospitals such as Kenyatta National Hospital.
Speaking at Chuka Level 5 Hospital in Tharaka Nithi County, where he commissioned a new ICU and amenities wing, Duale said the government intends to rely on digital monitoring tools, including the Afya Yangu app, to track services and verify insurance claims.
KMPDU responded swiftly in a statement released on Wednesday, calling for immediate consultations with the Ministry of Health, the Social Health Authority, and the Directorate of Health Assurance.
The union demanded a halt on any unilateral rollout of time-based restrictions, warning that they may pursue “appropriate industrial, legal, or advocacy action” if the policy is implemented in a manner that harms service delivery or violates labour rights.
“The proposed approach has not been discussed with organised labour or other key health sector stakeholders,” the union said, describing the plan to allow insurance approvals only outside 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. as “operationally unworkable” and “administratively unfair.”
KMPDU highlighted the challenges of Kenya’s public health system, including heavy patient loads, long working hours, emergency responsibilities, and overlapping duty periods.
The union defended dual practice as a necessary coping mechanism due to limited staffing, delayed salaries, intense workloads, and insufficient incentives for doctors to focus solely on public service.
“Time-based controls fail to capture the realities of hospital operations and may lead to arbitrary or unequal enforcement,” the union added.
While acknowledging the government’s concerns about accountability and resource management, KMPDU stressed that policies affecting doctors’ work must respect constitutional labour protections, align with collective bargaining agreements, and be developed in consultation with health sector unions.
The union proposed alternatives such as structured dual-practice frameworks, roster-based or facility-approved insurance authorisation systems, better incentives for doctors serving exclusively in public facilities, and accelerated recruitment to reduce workload pressures.
“KMPDU remains committed to improving public healthcare and safeguarding patient welfare,” the union concluded. The statement, signed by National Chairman Dr Abdi Mwachi, Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah, and National Treasurer Dr Mercy Nabwire, reflected a united stance ahead of ongoing discussions with the government.
