By Spy Uganda
Kampala: The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has summoned Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng to address the House regarding the non-deployment of medical interns to public facilities, a crucial requirement for completing their studies.
During the plenary session on Thursday, August 1, 2024, Tayebwa expressed his concern over numerous complaints from medical students seeking Parliament’s intervention. He highlighted the students’ frustration, questioning why they are required to wait at home for another year post-graduation while their peers have already been assigned to hospitals.
“I have received several complaints from medical intern students. Many have bombarded my social media accounts. We are all aware of these issues as some of you support these students or have people from your areas affected. They face numerous challenges,” Tayebwa stated.
He emphasized the urgent need to address the deployment issue, noting that the current situation tarnishes the Government’s image.
“The delay in deploying medical interns is a recurring problem. We need to understand whether this is due to funding, facility issues, or other reasons. It is imperative that we, as a government, address this matter collaboratively,” Tayebwa urged.
He directed Minister Aceng to present a statement and called on legislators to propose solutions to the Government by next week. Tayebwa sympathized with the medical interns, many of whom had their studies interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If we tell these interns to wait another year at home, they will rightfully say, ‘I have done my part by finishing my studies, but I cannot practice until I complete my internship. What do I do now?’”
Last week, the Ministry of Health released a list of intern doctors, nurses, midwives, and pharmacists who completed degrees in general medicine, surgery, dentistry, and nursing, assigning them to hospitals across the country. The one-year internship program, funded by the government, commenced in August 2024.
However, several students have raised concerns about the criteria used for selecting interns, with many left without hands-on practice for another year.
According to recent media reports quoting Kenneth Akiiri, Under Secretary in the Ministry of Health, UGX 35 billion has been allocated for allowances for over 2,000 medical interns for the next year.
Each intern will receive a UGX 1.5 million monthly allowance for a 36-hour working shift, a decrease from the UGX 2.5 million monthly allowance previously directed by the President, potentially leading to another strike.
