The Minister of State for Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (General Duties), Henry Musasizi, has given assurance that medical intern doctors and senior medical staff in government health facilities will be paid within two weeks.
Musasizi made the revelations during the plenary on Thursday.
“It is true that the House handled the issue and passed Shs32.5 billion in the supplementary budget to cater to allowances of intern doctors and salaries of senior medical staff. There is a process we follow after passing a supplementary and we have been following this,” Musasizi said.
Musasizi informed the lawmakers that the Ministry of Health received a request on Thursday for the funds from the Ministry of Health.
“By the close of business today, we should have issued the cash limit to them [Ministry of Health] to facilitate them pay the money,” he said.
The assurances by the minister follow a proposed motion for a resolution of Parliament urging the government to rescind a directive requiring medical interns to vacate government hospital facilities and to address concerns leading to medical interns’ strike.
Medical interns in government hospitals and health centers countrywide took industrial action six weeks ago, demanding a raise in salary and health insurance. They further raised concern over the lack of medical supplies.
While addressing the nation in 2017 and in June 2021, President Museveni said doctors’ salaries will be increased from Shs2.5 million to Shs5 million – a promise yet to be fulfilled.