Ministry clarifies on interns' payment

PIC: Opendi said doctor interns will get their money soon

HEALTHCARE | STRIKE

The state minister of health for general duties, Sarah Opendi, has said there is no need for interns to strike because the Government is already processing their payment.

She said the payment for interns is done on a quarterly basis because they keep rotating from one training centre to another. Opendi said the health ministry always needs to get updated lists from training centres, but that the lists delayed.

"This time round, heads of various centres delayed to send us the lists and we got them late. But the good news is that the payment for interns had already been sent to various centres. They will be able to get their money either by the close of the week or early next week. So there is no need for an alarm," she said.

Opendi added that they also agreed to have an intern policy and consultations are going on.

"I am aware that there should be another meeting to consider the draft to stakeholders to get more views. This meeting should have taken place by end of January. I am sure the teams are organising the meeting to take place this month where they will be able to share the draft report and seek other views. We should be completing the policy of both the interns and senior house officers this quarter," she noted.