Medical interns return to work tomorrow

The return to work of the medical interns arises out of their leaders meeting with officials from the ministry of health and thereby reaching a meeting of minds. 

However, the leader of the medical interns, Dr. Lilian Nabwire, said the Monday date of the return of medical interns to work is still tentative in light of the fact that she and her team must first hold a meeting with their members in order to reach a final decision. 

In a bruising battle of will between the government and the interns, the latter has been on strike since November 8th. 

The medical interns said the reason for laying down their tools was a result of the delay by the government to improve upon their allowances in accordance with a promise made by President Museveni earlier. 

As the showdown between the two reached a deadlock, the government and the interns, medical officers joined the strike on November 22nd. They too had their own grievances related to allowances and what they presumed are shortfalls in the health system.  

As the disagreements between the two warring sides reach a head, a glimmer at the end of the tunnel appeared in the form of a letter written on Friday by the information minister, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, to the Uganda Medical Association saying that funds for the interns are available. 

“The meeting agreed and confirmed that funds for payment of the interns allowances will be transferred to the accounts of the internship training centers from December 20. Enhanced internship allowances (intern) medical doctors Shs 2.5 m, pharmacists Shs 2m, and (graduate) nurses/midwives Shs 1.5m per month inclusive of arrears will be paid to all eligible medical interns with effect from July 1 to November 6 when they went on strike,” Dr. Chris Baryomunsi said in the letter.