By Robert Edwomu
Soroti—11, November 2021: Medical interns across the country this week laid down their tools after a delayed implementation of a presidential directive to have their pay increased.
In August 2021, President Museveni directed that medical interns’ pay be increased from shs750, 000 to shs2.5m, a directive that has not been adhered to.
The unfulfilled directive angered over 14,000 intern doctors in over 42 hospitals across the country prompting them to go on a peaceful strike.
Dr. Lillian Mary Nabwire, the President of the Federation of Uganda Medical Interns (FUMI), says they went on strike because of the poor working condition, poor pay, lack of accommodation and high transport cost.
She says this is the first time the intern Doctors are laying down their tools this year, after Presidential directives to have medical students paid more than what they get is not implemented.
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Health Minister has reacted to the interns’ strike, saying the doctors in training are breaching the vows they swore to serve and save life.
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Aceng who was in Teso for Covid-19 mass vaccination acknowledged that the shs750, 000 pay to interns is not satisfactory, but laying down the tools at this time is not the solution, she added.
She reiterated that medical staff should not be going to strike at times of epidemic and pandemic like now.
“Government is committed to addressing the plight of the doctors and at moment Parliament is processing a supplementary budget that comes with a consignment to cater for intern doctors,” minister Aceng announced.
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