In a historic first, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Saturday attended the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Annual Delegates Conference in Mombasa — a move widely viewed as both symbolic and strategic, given the simmering tensions between government and healthcare workers.

“No Health CS has ever shown up here. Not once. Not until today,” KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah declared as he welcomed Duale to the conference, setting the tone for what became a surprisingly candid address.

Duale's presence alone marked a break from tradition, signaling a possible shift in how the government engages the medical fraternity.

With Universal Health Coverage (UHC) sitting atop Kenya’s health agenda, the CS acknowledged what many in the room had long felt: without a well-equipped, fairly treated, and respected workforce, UHC is just a slogan.

“There can be no UHC without doctors, nurses, and all healthcare professionals being fully equipped, supported, and empowered to serve,” Duale said.

The CS went further to assure delegates that the Ministry of Health had honoured its 2024 Return to Work Formula commitments, including payment of the first instalment of Ksh.1.75 billion — with the rest to follow next financial year.

On postgraduate training, Duale confirmed that the State is footing tuition bills for doctors in specialist programs, noting that Ksh.73.8 million has already been disbursed to the first batch of 54 doctors, with 39 more in the pipeline. He urged medics left out of the list to submit their details for consideration, calling the effort inclusive.

But Duale didn’t sugar-coat the bitter pills. He admitted that frontline medics still struggle to access quality care themselves — a grim irony under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

“It is unconscionable that those who deliver care cannot themselves access quality care,” he said, promising decisive engagement with key agencies to fix the mess.

Duale also raised red flags about medics enabling fraud by sharing pre-authorisation codes — a practice he warned could damage the profession's credibility.

“We must care for our carers,” he said, adding that the government would work with counties to expand internship slots and ensure equitable deployment.

Just last week, he said, over 1,600 interns — medical, dental, and pharmacy — balloted successfully for placements set for July 2025.

Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga emphasized dialogue as key to rebuilding trust, while Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir proposed that statutory deductions be made directly at the source to strengthen financial oversight.