The Director of Medical Services in the Ministry of Health Dr Henry Mwebesa has ordered all hospital directors to fire striking medical interns within one week after they failed to report to their duty stations for several days.
In a letter dated December 11, Dr Mwebesa said despite the government assurances to medical Interns that their enhanced medical allowance would be paid, the interns have continued to on with the strike since December 6.
Dr Mwebesa said that the top management at the Ministry of Health has since noted that the interns have been absent from their training sites for three weeks.
It’s from this situation that the Ministry of Health is now directing the striking medical Interns to vacate the training sites to give room for the new interns who are supposed to occupy the sites beginning 2022.
Mwebesa said Parliament has since approved a supplementary budget to pay the enhanced medical allowances for interns and is awaiting the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to release the funds.
Dr Mwebesa noted that as soon the enhancement funds for medical Interns are received, the government will pay the interns arrears up to the time of the strike and the interns on strike are now directed to find their way to complete their training.