Health bodies urge urgent end to nurses’ impasse over service disruption

Professional health associations have called on the national and county governments, unions and other stakeholders to urgently resolve the ongoing impasse affecting nurses, warning that prolonged disruption could undermine healthcare delivery and patient safety.

The associations said coordinated healthcare teams remain particularly critical in maternal, newborn and child health, where uninterrupted services are essential to protecting mothers, newborns, children and families.

“Maternal, newborn and child health services depend on coordinated teams of healthcare professionals. We urge all stakeholders to find common ground and resolve the current impasse in a way that protects continuity of care and safeguards mothers, newborns, children and families,” the associations said.

Concern over wider health system

The professional bodies warned that the situation is not only a concern for individual health facilities but for the entire health sector.

“This is a concern for the entire health sector,” the associations said, noting that the effects of prolonged disruption could extend to service delivery, patient safety, clinical training and the sustainability of the healthcare workforce.

They said continued disruption could have wider consequences across the health system, making it necessary for all parties to work towards a lasting solution.

The associations called for the national government, county governments, unions and all relevant stakeholders to come together and resolve the impasse without further delay.

Focus on uninterrupted care

According to the professional bodies, the immediate priority should be restoring safe and uninterrupted healthcare services while addressing the broader challenges facing the health system.

They stressed that resolving the dispute would help ensure healthcare professionals can effectively perform their duties and patients can continue receiving essential services.

The associations also highlighted the importance of coordinated teams in maternal, newborn and child health services, warning that disruptions could affect vulnerable patients who depend on timely and specialised care.

Call for constructive engagement

The professional associations said their intervention was aimed at bringing a professional and public health perspective into the national conversation surrounding the dispute.

They said their concern was driven by the potential consequences of continued disruption across different areas of the healthcare system.

The bodies urged all parties to prioritise constructive engagement and reach an urgent resolution that would enable nurses to return fully to the bedside.

They further called for an outcome that would allow Kenyans to once again access the healthcare services they need without interruptions.

The associations maintained that dialogue and cooperation among the affected parties remained critical in addressing the immediate disruption while also tackling the wider challenges affecting Kenya’s health system.