Since the 6th of November 2021, a number of medical interns have been on a sit down strike, refusing to attend to patiens until their internship allowances are cleared. We've been doing stories about the progress of their strike, the recent on ebeing that when the chairman of the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) Dr. Ojede told the public that their strike will continue until the government's pledgeis fulfilled.
However, news coming from the Ministry of Education indicates that all striking interns have been told to vacate their respective hospital premises in one week, to create room for new interns who will be assuming work come January next year.
In a letter written by Dr. Henry G Mwebesa, director general Health Services, the government had assured the interns that they would be paid their arrears after the suplemenatry budget was passed, and indeed it was passed, but the money is yet to be released by the ministry of finance, development and plnning
In accordance to this, the striking interns were expected to take the word of the govenrment and return on duty but they didn't and yet they were left with only two months to be certified health workers.
The letter further instructs these interns to find means of completing their remaining two months of the second rotation if they're to be signed off. This is not the first time the ministry is laying off striking interns and one wonders if it will be the last.
