The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has condemned the arrest and mistreatment of medical interns in Uganda, calling it a regional healthcare workforce crisis.

• KMPDU urged the immediate and unconditional release of detained interns and healthcare workers.
• The union called for meaningful dialogue between the Ugandan government and its Ministry of Health to address the crisis.
• KMPDU stressed that the issues of delayed deployment, unpaid stipends, and poor working conditions for interns are a regional concern requiring coordinated action.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has strongly condemned the arrest of eight medical interns in Uganda following a protest over unpaid allowances and poor working conditions. The interns were charged with common nuisance and remanded in prison.

• Eight medical interns were arrested on August 12, 2026, in Kampala.
• KMPDU is demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the detained interns.
• The arrests are linked to Uganda's new National Education and Training for Health (NETH) policy, which reclassifies internships as training, impacting allowances.

The Kenya Health Summit 2026 opens today in Nairobi, bringing together over 5,000 delegates to assess the progress of health reforms and push for tangible improvements in healthcare delivery.

• The summit's theme is "Reforms Delivered, Health as a Right," emphasizing the transition from policy to measurable outcomes.
• Key figures attending include President William Ruto and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
• Discussions will focus on critical areas like health financing, primary healthcare, the Social Health Authority (SHA) rollout, and digital health, with the goal of producing a Joint Compact and Communiqué outlining priority actions.

Kenya is set to host its inaugural Health Summit 2026 on August 18-19 at the KICC, focusing on the nation's journey towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under the theme “Reforms Delivered, Health as a Right.”

• The summit will showcase achievements and challenges in health financing, digital health, workforce reforms, primary healthcare, and specialized services over the past four years.
• Key figures include Health CS Aden Duale and President William Ruto, who will moderate a Town Hall session.
• Progress will be highlighted under the Social Health Authority (SHA), detailing registration, contributions, and access to services, alongside advancements in digital health and medical commodity supply chain reforms through KEMSA.