Doctors at private hospitals in Kenya will begin a 48-hour strike at midnight local time to show solidarity with doctors on strike in the state health sector, the Kenya Medical Association (KMA) has said.
The decision comes after a court yesterday sentenced of seven union officials to one month in prison for being in contempt of a ruling to end the strike which has badly affected state hospitals.
Doctors plan to protest at courts around the country, and if the seven are not released within 48 hours the KMA will issue further instructions to its members, KMA head Jacqueline Kitulu said.
The government says patients have died as a result of the strike, which has lasted for around 10 weeks, and has called on doctors to return to work.
However, the doctors have vowed to continue with the strike until the government implements a deal reached in 2013 to increase basic salaries by 150% to 180%, review working conditions and address under-staffing in state hospitals.
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