Medics want their ranks restructured

HEALTH

Doctors under their umbrella body, the Uganda Medical Association (UMA), have asked the Government to consider restructuring their ranks and promotions.

According to UMA president Dr Ekwaro Obuku, failure by government to restructure doctors' ranks and delayed promotions are demoralising practitioners.

He made the comments while addressing the media at Mulago Guest House in Kampala, on Friday.

"Currently, it is not easy to tell who is a senior doctor. We implore the government to consider promotions of doctors as priority to avoid demoralising them," Obuku said.

Obuku also announced that UMA executive has invoked its powers to further suspend their strike until the first quarter of 2018 calendar year because of the progressive success they have registered with government in resolving their grievances.

"We have opted to further suspend the industrial action, taking into consideration the festive season, where safety is compromised in terms of road traffic accident causalities," he noted.

Doctors were scheduled to resume their strike starting yesterday, to compel the government to increase their salaries, improve on their working conditions and provide of medical equipment in government facilities.

He also tasked the ministry of health to expedite the policy on intern doctors and senior house officers, who were left out, yet they provide the much needed labour in treating Ugandans in teaching hospitals.

Obuku implored the government to double the budget for supplies so as to improve competition, instead of the current monopoly of the National Medical stores, which he said sometimes leads to shortage of drugs in the country.

He advised the government to recruit another 1,000 doctors, including 200 specialists who he said are available in the country, instead of importing Cuban doctors.

The President of Medical Interns in Uganda, Dr Robert Lubega, said some of the medical interns in some parts of the country have not received their November salaries.