Govt Reverses Decision, Medical Interns to Continue Receiving Allowances

The Ugandan government has reversed its earlier decision to halt the monthly facilitation for medical interns. This move follows significant unrest and uncertainty among the intern cohort.

Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi announced that Cabinet has rescinded the policy that aimed to differentiate payments for government and privately sponsored interns. As a result, the current group of medical interns will continue to receive a gross monthly allowance of Shs1,268,929, which is subject to taxation, effectively maintaining their approximate net pay of Shs1 million.

“We did agree and Cabinet recommended that we suspend that provision of facilitation for medical interns, meaning that we pay them as it has been,” Baryomunsi stated to Parliament. He also extended the reporting deadline for interns to their assigned health facilities to Friday of the current week, allowing those who missed the initial August 3-14 window to comply.

Furthermore, a proposal that would have mandated medical students to complete their internship before graduation has also been reversed. Under the revised approach, students will graduate after passing their final examinations, with internship then serving as a separate prerequisite for professional practice.

While the reversal provides immediate relief, concerns persist. The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, welcomed the decision but urged the government to consider increasing the allowance, citing the current amount as insufficient for living and working conditions. He also expressed concern that the reversal might only apply to the current cohort, potentially necessitating future advocacy.

President Yoweri Museveni has reportedly proposed exempting medical workers’ salaries from taxation altogether, a suggestion that will be considered in a broader health workforce strategy paper. The government also plans to address the issue of unemployed trained doctors and explore sustainable financing for the health workforce.

This development comes shortly after the release on bail of eight medical interns arrested during protests against delayed deployment and facilitation issues. The government’s reversal offers a temporary reprieve, though long-term reforms for the health sector’s training, recruitment, and remuneration remain a pressing concern.

Source: Nile Post