Medical Sector under Capitalism is Irreversibly Broken Down

News:

Doctors at Kenya’s public hospitals are on a nationwide strike, accusing the government of failing to implement a raft of promises from a collective bargaining agreement signed in 2017 after a 100-day strike that saw people dying from lack of care. The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union said they went on strike to demand comprehensive medical cover for the doctors and because the government has yet to post 1,200 medical interns.

Comment:

The doctor’s strike which has now entered into a third week is a clear and undisputable evidence that the medical sector in Capitalist regimes is irreversibly broken down. The impact of the strike is being felt across the country with many patients left unattended or being turned away from public health facilities. Bitterly, the big chiefs have the luxury of access paid for yet the helpless are totally ignored!  This pathetic situation is humiliating to any government which claims to cater for the wellbeing of its people; yet it does not care for its own citizens who are heavily burdened with taxes; while leaving them to suffer in public hospitals by denying them their basic right to medical attention.

The striking doctors should realize that the evil foundations of Capitalism is the prime source of their devastated situation. All endemic crises in public services resulting in perennial strikes of the public workers need a systematic solution that cannot arise from corrupt capitalist system.

While the demands are genuine but doctors have also set with capitalist mind. Capitalism is inundated with materialistic gratification devoid of spirituality being the sole criteria in life triggers the medical experts to develop a culture of avidity to amass wealth through corrupt deals. Rogue doctors have been exploiting the female patients sexually.

The alternative system to Capitalism is none other than Islam which has put medical care as one of the basic needs for the public which needs grave and serious attention.  Islam does not view health services or any public service as privilege or favor but as a priority upon which the state is obligated to provide it to all its citizens.

Islam has further outlined that that doctors’ salary is to be paid from the State Treasury (Baitul Maal). Notwithstanding that, Islam also banned taxation on an employee’s salary so that to enable them meet their basic needs. Based on that, we categorically say that by the re-establishment of the Khilafah (Caliphate) state upon the method of the Prophethood in the world, all these noble rulings will by fully implemented hence no perennial strikes of public workers will be witnessed.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Shabani Mwalimu
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in Kenya