Duale vows to resolve UHC workers’ employment issues within three weeks

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has pledged to address long-standing employment concerns affecting healthcare workers under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program within the next three weeks.

Speaking at Afya House to hundreds of UHC workers, Duale assured them of his dedication to resolving key issues, including the settlement of gratuity and the transition of those with over five years of service to Permanent and Pensionable (PnP) terms.

He emphasised fairness and equity in addressing health sector concerns, promising consultative solutions that prioritise the welfare of healthcare professionals.

The CS further reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening Kenya’s healthcare system while cracking down on unqualified practitioners in the sector.

On Tuesday, hundreds of healthcare workers  employed under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program staged a sit-in at the Ministry of Health offices (Afya House), demanding transition to permanent and pensionable terms, as well as the full payment of their five-year gratuity.

The workers were hired under the UHC pilot program initiated in 2018, which was later expanded nationwide.

Despite the CS’s assurance, the workers are yet to call off their strike, which began on March 7, 2025, disrupting healthcare services in several counties as hospitals grapple with staffing shortages.