MPs vow to block importation of Cuban doctors

By David Lukiiza

IMPORTATION OF CUBAN DOCTORS 

Members of Parliament on the committee for quality health care service delivery have agreed to fight the government's plan of importing Cuban doctors. 

 

However, while addressing the International Labour Day celebrations in Ssembabule on Tuesday, President Yoweri Museveni did not confirm whether the Cuban doctors will be brought or not.

 

"I wanted to bring Cubans because the Ugandan doctors behave unprofessionally. For instance they tried to incite their fellow doctors into absconding from duty, but they failed," he said.

 

The MPs while meeting at Fairway Hotel in Kampala recently, agreed to work in unison to take the war against Cuban doctors to the floor of Parliament.

The meeting was organised by AMREF Health Africa through Health Systems Advocacy project in partnership with a number of other health NGOs. 

 

The MPs also resolved to block the vote for the recruitment of public officers in the next financial year, which the secretary to the treasury, Keith Muhakanizi presented before Parliament on April 12. They argued that by endorsing the vote, they will be giving the Government a green light to import Cuban doctors. 

 

The issue of importing Cuban doctors to work in Ugandan health facilities has become critical with local doctors and a cross section of Ugandans insisting that it is uncalled for. The idea was fronted by the Government to address lack of specialists in upcountry health facilities. 

 

Kumi Municipality MP Silus Aogon said the Government should stop politicking the matters of health because they affect Ugandans regardless of their political parties.

"We are not ready to see the country lose focus because of a few individuals who do not think about the nationals," Aogon said.

 

Nwoya County MP Simon Oyet said it was time for MPs to stand up on the matter to be counted.  "The Government must always prioritise Ugandans because importing Cuban doctors means rendering our people unemployed," he said. 

 

The Bukwo County MP, Evelynn Chemutai, wondered how Cuban doctors will diagnose patients whose languages they do not understand.

 

Dr Ekwaro Obuku, the president of the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has even asked the Government to re-examine the plan. He noted that with the 600 doctors and specialists Uganda produces annually, importing Cuban doctors will leave then unemployed. Obuku said the Government should address the challenges hindering Ugandan doctors from working upcountry instead of recruiting Cubans.

The challenges, he said, include poor accommodation and inadequate supplies in upcountry facilities.

  

However, the Government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo, who has described Ugandans making noise on the matter as opportunists and divisionary, says Cuban doctors are great people who work like soldiers and boy scouts.

"They do not need mattresses and running water like the medical graduates from Makerere and other universities," he said.