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Doctors ask internal affairs ministry to re-introduce professional titles in passports
In case medical assistance is needed when an aircraft is in transit, immediate medical assistance can be rendered. But even if we are willing to help, nobody can trust us to be medical doctors because our passports do not bear the title," Luswata said.
During an interview with the New Vision online on July 20, Dr. Herbert Luswata, a former President of the Uganda Medical Association, said having the title 'doctor' in the passport enables one to easily be identified as a person with capacity to offer emergency medical care on aircrafts during travel.
By: Jovita Mirembe, Journalist @New Vision
Medical doctors in Uganda have requested the Internal Affairs Ministry to re-introduce professional titles in the Ugandan passport to enable them to handle emergencies that may occur while they are travelling in planes.
During an interview with the New Vision online on July 20, Dr. Herbert Luswata, a former President of the Uganda Medical Association, said having the title 'doctor' in the passport enables one to easily be identified as a person with capacity to offer emergency medical care on aircrafts during travel.
Luswata said that in case of an emergency during a flight, the cabin crew can quickly identify licensed medical professionals on board who can save a life before the plane lands.
"The section where the title of 'doctor' was included used to be in the passport some time back, but it was later deleted. Presently, doctors are addressed as Mister, Miss or Misses, yet we are professional medical doctors.
In case medical assistance is needed when an aircraft is in transit, immediate medical assistance can be rendered. But even if we are willing to help, nobody can trust us to be medical doctors because our passports do not bear the title," Luswata said.
In case medical assistance is needed when an aircraft is in transit, immediate medical assistance can be rendered. But even if we are willing to help, nobody can trust us to be medical doctors because our passports do not bear the title," Luswata said.
Simon Mundeyi
He said in countries like the UK, professional titles like 'medical doctor' are noted on the personal details page or in the 'observations' section of the travel document.
Simon Mundeyi, the spokesperson of the Internal Affairs Ministry, said there used to be a provision for the profession in the old Ugandan passport where people would indicate their professional titles.
However, this has since changed with the new East Africa Community passport.
Mundeyi said the new electronic passports follow guidelines from International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International body governing the issuance of passports globally, where travellers' details are kept electronically in a chip.
"On this note, I am requesting the medical doctors under their umbrella organisation, the Uganda Medical Doctors Association, to officially write to ICAO, which has the authority to make an amendment in their guidelines to allow them to have their title written in the Ugandan passport," Mundeyi added.
Simon Mundeyi, the spokesperson of the Internal Affairs Ministry, said there used to be a provision for the profession in the old Ugandan passport where people would indicate their professional titles.
However, this has since changed with the new East Africa Community passport.
Mundeyi said the new electronic passports follow guidelines from International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International body governing the issuance of passports globally, where travellers' details are kept electronically in a chip.
"On this note, I am requesting the medical doctors under their umbrella organisation, the Uganda Medical Doctors Association, to officially write to ICAO, which has the authority to make an amendment in their guidelines to allow them to have their title written in the Ugandan passport," Mundeyi added.