Doctors Announce Strike As Government Promises Them Better Working Conditions

Posted by: Kyeyune Andrew Jonathan in Health November 22, 2021

Doctors have once again announced that they will go on strike through their umbrella organization Uganda Medical Association. They cited failure by the government to improve their working conditions and to increase their salaries.

Those on strike include doctors, nurses, midwives, consultants, medical interns, and pharmacists.

‘’We don’t want signed papers, we don’t want promises, we don’t want meetings. This time all we want is money on our accounts or else we won’t come back to work,’’ said Dr. Herbert Luswata, the Secretary-General of the doctors’ association.

UMA President Dr. Samuel Odongo said the health workers have for the past four years engaged relevant government ministries, departments, and agencies. These were to discuss matters affecting the health workers.

However, the government has only made promises which they have since failed to fulfill.

In September 2019, the president ordered the Public Service Ministry to increase allowances and salaries for scientists, University lecturers, and health workers.

Apparently, they had also agreed per financial year to increase health workers’ allowances from shs 12b to sh 35b. This had to address all their grievances related to improving their welfare and salaries.

The doctors said however much the directive saw implementation at the universities and some parastatal organizations, they have neglected health workers.

‘’Patience pays. The issues raised by UMA are being handled. A supplementary budget to implement the presidential directive is being processed after being passed by parliament. They should follow their professional calling by putting patients first,’’ MoH spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyona said last evening.

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