Kenya to import 500 doctors from Tanzania

By Beth Nyaga

Statehouse spokesperson Manoah Esipisu has confirmed that the government has reached an agreement with the Tanzanian government to import 500 doctors from the neighboring East African nation in a bid to ease crisis in the health sector.

Speaking during his weekly briefing at statehouse, Nairobi, Esipisu said the doctors from Tanzania will work on contractual basis, and their practice will only be restricted to public hospitals.

Esipisu added that the doctors will be paid at par, according to their experience and skills, with the package offer Government has made to Kenyan Intern doctors and Medical Officers.

He further said that since the Tanzanian doctors have no access to mortgage, car loan packages or pension offered under Kenya’s public service scheme, it means that they will come in at a cost effective and sustainable basis.

He said the doctors from Tanzania will be issued with work permits and limited to working in hospitals they have been assigned and will not be involved in private practice.

The deal to employ foreign doctors was reached yesterday between Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli and Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Dr Cleopa Mailu, at State House, Dar es Salaam.

While confirming the deal, Tanzania’s President said that the medics being sent to Kenya are those who are currently not in government employment and are willing to work in the country.

This comes just a week after the Medical Association of Tanzania President, Obadia Nyagole, said that Tanzania was facing a shortage of 1,794 doctors and, therefore, cannot allow the country to export medics to Kenya.