Doctors, pre-medical interns should be heard [EDITOR'S OPINION]

Key among the issues raised by the senior doctors is the salary increment and change in their professional titles, which they say have led to the government confusing them for low cadres.

While addressing the media on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, Dr. Joel Kimera, a paediatrician at Mulago, said they want their titles changed to ‘associate consultant.’

Pre-medical interns, on the other hand, are demanding that the Ministry of Health deploy them for internships.

The Ministry of Health's permanent secretary, Diana Atwine, upon meeting pre-medical interns early this month, said medical interns who can afford to sponsor their internship should go on and do so.

This was an indication that perhaps the Ministry of Health had no money to cater for pre-medical interns.

The Minister for Health, Jane Ruth Aceng, confirmed this while appearing before Parliament, saying the Ministry would need sh80b to deploy pre-medical interns.

The cry for pay by doctors and medical interns is a story that has been around for quite some time and coincides with President Museveni’s repeated emphasis on science prioritisation.

It also coincides with the recent budget reading, which saw the Ministry of Health receive sh1.58 trillion.

Some of this money will be used to address issues such as the maintenance and rehabilitation of health centres II and III across the country and the operationalisation of Mulago Super Specialised Hospital and the Uganda Cancer Institute.

Sh22b was allocated to the ministry for emoluments for medical interns and senior doctors, but only to cater for arrears accumulated last year and not to solve the problem as a whole.

Medical professionals play a crucial role in the lives of many Ugandans, just like in any other country.

Given the year-in and year-out cries from medical doctors and interns, it is clear President Museveni’s repeated emphasis on prioritising medical workers is just smoke.

Medical doctors and interns’ cries need to be heard because they are at the centre of our lives. Very few Ugandans have the luxury of being flown out for treatment. This is a preserve for the rich and highly placed individuals, which are only a tiny fraction of the entire population.