Doctors brain drain

Joy Sitati

The Council of Governors is raising red flags due to the high numbers of health workers leaving the country, according to Tharaka Nithi county boss who chairs the COG health committee, the number of doctors in the country is low and the situation is made worse by doctors who leave the country in pursuit of greener pastures abroad.

According to COG data; 

362 doctors are away on study leave, 135 have completed their scholarships and are expected to be back to the counties but their fears are that some may not go back to the counties as some may not go back to their counties as they either apply for transfers and 229 doctors are still on post graduate.

The COG saying that there are only 14 doctors for every 10000 Kenyans.

Speaking at a conference about developing a healthcare workforce for Africa Workshop Njuki noted that Kenya is at a loss as taxpayers money is spent training medics is lost as the doctors leave the country.

However a paradox exists in the country, despite sending nurses abroad, the country is unable to employ the huge large number of nurses that are completing colleges every year.

The ministry of Health however refuted claims over brain drain saying the country trains enough medics for the nation and to send abroad