We need sh80b to deploy pre-medical interns, says Aceng

Aceng, who was appearing before Parliament on Thursday, June 22, 2023, after having been summoned, said the Ministry of Finance only allocated sh8b of the required sh80b for pre-medical interns, making it hard for the ministry to deploy them unless they are sure the rest of the money will be availed.

“For 1901 interns, we required sh80.4b to deploy them, and out of that money, we gave us sh8b for interns and sh2b for senior house officers. So, we are not able to deploy interns until we are sure that the sh80.4b will be provided,” she said.

Aceng also clarified during plenary that the sh22b the Ministry of Health received was not meant for pre-medical interns but rather to pay arrears for the 935 medical interns who completed

“The sh22b the Ministry of Health received is not for the deployment of the 1901 pre-medical interns but rather to pay arrears of the 935 interns who completed internships in April this year,” she clarified.

On reports of a blood shortage in the country, as raised by Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, Aceng said that despite the challenges of collecting sufficient blood, there is still blood in the blood banks.

"Yes, we are facing the challenge of collecting sufficient blood, but there is still blood in the blood banks. The Ministry is working tooth and nail to try to collect enough blood," she said.