Govt to review health workers' terms of service

The Health Service Commission is set to review terms of service for health workers to streamline mechanisms of dealing with officers who fall short of the required professional standards while carrying out their duties.

The disclosure follows the sacking on Wednesday by President Yoweri Museveni of Wakiso hospital staff, including the Wakiso District health services officer, Emmanuel Mukisa, over neglect of duty and absenteeism.

The staff — among them the facility's in charge Stephen Amayo — were fired following public outcry over their conduct at work.

The decision resulted in the closure of Nakawuka health centre III until government finds new staff to fill the vacant slots.

Health Service chairman Pius Okong said: "There are no clear mechanisms of dealing with discipline issues. There are no active rewards and sanctions. That problem is not unique to Wakiso but also across other health centres in the country."

Okong was speaking at a meeting between locals and the President to discuss issues affecting them.  

The event at which locals vented their anger against health centre on a range of issues, including mistreatment of patients, poor hygiene at the facility, among other issues, concluded with the firing of more than 10 health workers, among them nurses and the facility's medical officer.