Sh18b for medics’ allowances
Aug 21, 2008
THE Ministry of Health has released sh18b to improve the salaries of medical workers,
THE Ministry of Health has released sh18b to improve the salaries of medical workers, reports Francis Kagolo.
According to health state minister Richard Nduhura, the money will be used to pay duty-facilitation allowances as the ministry continues to negotiate the increment of their monthly salaries.
“There has been an outcry of low pay by the health workers, especially when they compare the kind of work they are doing to their salaries. With these allowances, we hope their motivation will be boosted,†he said yesterday.
This was during the launch of the ministry’s policy and guidelines for mainstreaming occupational health and safety for medical practitioners at Protea Hotel in Kampala.
Emmanuel Otaala, the primary health care state minister, explained that the allowances would be paid depending on the workers’ salary scales.
“A doctor cannot get the same amount with others below him,†he told The New Vision.
Nduhura said the ministry had also embarked on a $32m (about sh54b) under which health workers’ staff houses would be constructed.
“The ministry is committed to improving the conditions of the health workers through various ways,†he noted.
According to the new safety rules for medical practitioners, both private and public health units are required to put in place measures to prevent medical workers from acquiring diseases or other health risks in the process of treating patients.
Health units are also expected to compensate medical workers who acquire diseases while on the job.
To this effect, the ministry is to set up over 80 district committees that will monitor health units across the country.
“This is a big milestone in our service delivery. The guidelines will save our medical staff from dying unnecessarily,†said Dr. Sam Zaramba, the Director General of Health Services.
According to health state minister Richard Nduhura, the money will be used to pay duty-facilitation allowances as the ministry continues to negotiate the increment of their monthly salaries.
“There has been an outcry of low pay by the health workers, especially when they compare the kind of work they are doing to their salaries. With these allowances, we hope their motivation will be boosted,†he said yesterday.
This was during the launch of the ministry’s policy and guidelines for mainstreaming occupational health and safety for medical practitioners at Protea Hotel in Kampala.
Emmanuel Otaala, the primary health care state minister, explained that the allowances would be paid depending on the workers’ salary scales.
“A doctor cannot get the same amount with others below him,†he told The New Vision.
Nduhura said the ministry had also embarked on a $32m (about sh54b) under which health workers’ staff houses would be constructed.
“The ministry is committed to improving the conditions of the health workers through various ways,†he noted.
According to the new safety rules for medical practitioners, both private and public health units are required to put in place measures to prevent medical workers from acquiring diseases or other health risks in the process of treating patients.
Health units are also expected to compensate medical workers who acquire diseases while on the job.
To this effect, the ministry is to set up over 80 district committees that will monitor health units across the country.
“This is a big milestone in our service delivery. The guidelines will save our medical staff from dying unnecessarily,†said Dr. Sam Zaramba, the Director General of Health Services.