The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has condemned the Ministry of Health’s directive ordering medical interns to report to their designated hospitals by August 14 or risk forfeiting their internship placements.
FDC Vice Chairperson Robert Centenary Franco described the ultimatum as reckless, saying deploying interns without pay and adequate support puts both the health workers and patients at risk.
“Sending an intern to run a ward without pay, without support, and not even with a guarantee that they will be facilitated is not deploying them to save lives. It is putting both patients and interns at risk,” Franco said. FDC said the interns’ continued strike is linked to disagreements with government over the National Education and Training for Health Policy and the welfare of government-sponsored and privately sponsored interns.
“The Federation for Uganda Medical Interns has been clear on why the strike continues: Government has not withdrawn the disputed National Education and Training for Health Policy, and it has refused to guarantee equal welfare and allowances for both government-sponsored and privately sponsored interns, yet they are all going to work for Government,” the party said.
The party said interns are already filling a major gap in Uganda’s health system, particularly in government facilities. “If you walk into any Government hospital today, you will find that it is medical interns who are on the ward, in theatre, and in the maternity unit at 2 a.m.,” FDC said.
FDC also questioned the government’s prioritisation of resources, saying the annual cost of facilitating medical interns is significantly lower than money spent on sending selected Ugandans abroad for treatment.
“Ministry of Health figures put the full annual cost of facilitating interns at UGX 35.7 billion, yet Uganda spends an estimated USD 150 to 175 million annually sending a select few citizens abroad for medical treatment,” the party said.
The party said government could also redirect savings from suspended public holiday functions towards intern facilitation. “We have over UGX 24 billion in savings from suspended public holiday functions and could be redirected to intern facilitation,” FDC said.
FDC is demanding the immediate withdrawal of the August 14 ultimatum, a written commitment guaranteeing equal facilitation and allowances for all medical interns, and a supplementary budget of at least Shs35.7 billion for intern facilitation.
