The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has endorsed a directive issued by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale regarding the employment of foreign doctors, warning that widespread violations of labour, immigration, and pay regulations are threatening medical ethics and patient safety in Kenya. Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, KMPDU Secretary-General Dr Davji Atellah said the union’s support is based on existing laws, adding that some practices within private healthcare facilities amount to what he described as modern-day exploitation.
Hundreds of Foreign Doctors Licensed
According to KMPDU, more than 300 foreign doctors have been licensed to practise in Kenya in recent years, while over 3,000 foreign medical practitioners have worked in the country over the past three years. The union emphasized that it does not oppose foreign professionals working in Kenya. However, it raised concerns that many are being hired by private and faith-based hospitals under terms that violate Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) and guidelines issued by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC).
Claims of Underpayment and Law Violations
Dr Atellah alleged that some foreign doctors earn far below gazetted salaries, with reports of monthly pay as low as Sh40,000 to Sh50,000.
That is exploitation,” he said. “It damages not only the doctors involved but also the ethical foundation of medical practice in this country
Dr AtellahKMPDU further accused some healthcare facilities of breaching immigration laws by employing foreign doctors without valid work permits or by ignoring the requirements tied to Class D work permits. The union also claimed that employers often fail to prove that the skills being imported are unavailable locally, despite thousands of Kenyan doctors remaining unemployed or underemployed.
Lessons from the Past
Deputy Secretary-General Dr Miskellah Maghanga likened the current situation to the controversial importation of Cuban doctors, arguing that it was used to weaken the bargaining power of local practitioners.
Impact on Patient Care
KMPDU singled out several private hospitals, accusing them of prioritising profits over patient welfare by recruiting doctors from countries such as India, Egypt, and Pakistan, subjecting them to heavy workloads while offering low pay. The union warned that such practices ultimately compromise patient care, especially for low-income Kenyans. KMPDU also linked recent healthcare scandals, including issues surrounding kidney transplant services, to weak enforcement of immigration and labour regulations.
Nationwide Compliance Campaign Announced
In response, KMPDU announced the launch of a nationwide compliance campaign aimed at enforcing labour, immigration, and professional standards across all healthcare facilities. The campaign will scrutinise employment conditions for both local and foreign doctors, with the union demanding immediate adherence to all gazetted pay structures. The union has also urged immigration authorities and labour regulators to intensify enforcement, warning that failure to act could further damage Kenya’s healthcare system and erode public confidence.
