Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi has come out to water down the ongoing strike by medical interns stating that even when the intern doctors have absconded duty for two weeks now, the world moves on.
Baryomunsi made these remarks while being hosted on a local television yesterday.
The minister further added that the letter by the Ministry of Health stands.
“By Friday, all interns who don’t want to work will have to vacate,” he noted.
He further went forth to water down their strike stating that business is going on as usual, whether the interns strike or not.
“They haven’t been working for six weeks. Has the world stopped?” he said.
“It is in an intern’s interest to do the internship very well and pass. They shouldn’t be engaging in these strikes. I am speaking as a medical doctor who passed through the process,” he added.
Dr. Chris Baryomunsi further added that there is nothing to negotiate because all the issues the interns had earlier raised had been solved.
“What is there to negotiate? All the issues they raised have been addressed. If they have any other issues beyond welfare, let them let us know,” he said.
Baryomunsi however noted that the intern’s request for an increment in allowances is legitimate, and that’s why the government has responded by allocating money in the supplementary budget.
“About Shs19 billion was allocated to enhance salaries of medical interns in the supplementary budget.
“The interns also know that the money is available. It is these politicians confusing them. There is no crisis available in the health sector as far as the government is concerned,” he said.
Baryomunsi cautioned the interns to be patient because the government doesn’t have a sack of money where we can just pick money from.
“The President directed that the salary be increased effectively immediately, but we don’t have money right now. We shall pay the arrears. The medical workers’ strike is not popular among the health workers, and I can say that without fear of contradiction,” he stated.
The Minister further stated that interns are not public servants.
“The internship is a transition period. The interns are not public servants, although they do a lot of work for us. The government appreciates their work, and that’s why they have an allowance,” he said.