Patients in Uganda to get stack with illness in hospitals as doctors declare total Industrial Action.
Doctors in the country have declared a total Industrial Action following government failure to meet their demands despite the constant efforts geared towards agitating for improvement in their salaries and other fringe benefits.
In a joint press conference addressed by the different heads of umbrella organizations held at Mulago they announced that with effect from 11:00pm today they will put down their tools and will not handle even the emergence cases like they have been doing in the past.
The General Secretary of Uganda Medical Association (U.M.A) Herbert Luswata said that consultants despite having same level of qualifications like their immediate supervisors they are earning a low pay yet they do most of the work in hospitals.
He also said that UMA has had several negotiations with government before the release of the new salary structure to correct the salary discrepancies for Medical Officer Special Grade following the Presidential Directive to increase salaries for all health workers but this hasn’t been effected yet.
They are demanding government to enhance their salaries from UGX 6 million to 11 million. Their senior consultants are paid UGX 12 million because they are the one who are doing the consulting work and surgery.
Doctor Luswata also informed reporters that despite the various meetings UMA also held with the Health committee of Parliament were they presented the number of Senior House Officials in the country, and the amount of funds required to pay their allowances, government has remained adamant.
According to Dr Luswata, the government should provide Shs21 billion required to correct salary discrepancies for the MOSGs and medical interns, as part of the supplementary budget for interns and SHOs allowances in budget for the financial year 2023/2024.
Furthermore, the UMA secretary general also requested the government to change the names of MOSG to associate consultants.
Doctor Robert Lubega the chairman of the Senior House Officials said that despite agitating for the enhancement for their salaries, they face other challenges such as lack of supplies that are being used in hospitals especially in theatres.
“We on many occasions dig from our pockets to buy the medical supplies that we use while performing our duty yet we are paid little and this little even delays coming.” Dr.Lubega lamented.
The Medical interns who are studying for their second degree to become specialists have not been paid their allowances for the last six months and this prompted them to start a go slow strike but this time round they have joined their seniors for a total Industrial Action.
The Minister of Information and National Guidance Dr. Chris Baryomunsi who is also a Medical Doctor when contacted said that government has just enhanced salaries for all Scientists including doctors and other health workers and can’t increase again in this small period of time.
He said that there’s a need to improve communication between government and workers who are always pressuring the state to bow to their demands yet the resource envelope can’t allow.
He caution all health workers to desist from staging what he called unnecessary demonstrations along sheets but instead continue engaging government because strikes may not yield positive results.
Doctor Baryomunsi the minister of health has already drafted a document on medical students can be placed and accommodated for their internship including their allowances and will be discussed in the next cabinet meeting.
He however said that there’s still a challenge on the policy whether to subject the medical interns to examination before being accepted or after their internship is done and the budget that is required to have them placed in the different government hospitals.
By George Bukenya