Uganda: Baryomunsi Blames 'External Forces' As Medical Interns Hold Back From Postings
[Nile Post] Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi has told Parliament that government has deployed eligible medical interns to accredited hospitals but accused unnamed "external forces" of encouraging them not to report for duty.
Ugandan Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi has claimed that external forces are pressuring eligible medical interns not to report for duty, despite government efforts to deploy them to accredited hospitals. The minister reported that interns were expected to start their mandatory internship between August 3 and August 14, but some remain hesitant to fulfill their duty.
Baryomunsi admitted that his government recognized the interns' concerns but insisted that they must complete the training before becoming fully licensed doctors. The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has responded by giving the government 14 days to resolve the issue or face industrial action, demanding a monthly internship allowance of Shs4 million and guarantees that all interns will be deployed to accredited training sites.
The minister dismissed claims that interns are crucial to Uganda's healthcare system, stating that they are mainly for supervised professional training and that the government maintains that they shouldn't be seen as substitutes for permanently employed health workers. The current standoff is fueled by the National Education and Training for Health Policy, which some interns find concerning due to financial support issues during their internship period.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
