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When health is not a human right in Neo-liberal Uganda : Uganda Doctors go on strike leaving patients stranded : When a senior Ugandan consultant doctor earns about Shs 3.4 million, consultant Shs 2.6 million, and a medical officer Shs 1.1 million as a Member of Parliament earns over 24 million
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.ug/2017/11/when-health-is-not-human-right-in-neo.html
When the right to health in American Neo-liberal dictatorships goes to the dogs: Uganda’s only cancer machine goes bonkers: Can you Imagine one machine in a country with 40 million people ???
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2018/09/when-right-to-health-in-american-neo.html
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When utterances of African leaders make God laugh: “Am now 68 years and one of the things I don’t have a budget for is sickness’’. He explained that he no longer shook hands as a precaution against the deadly Ebola virus. Museveni
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2012/09/when-utterances-of-african-leaders-make.html
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The effect of Brain Drain on Uganda’s Health Sector: No applicants yet for 36 key Mulago vacancies
http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2012/07/effect-of-brain-drain-on-ugandas-health.html
https://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/search?q=health
THE DOCTORS STRIKE: Protesting Ugandan medics freed on bail
http://nilepost.co.ug/2021/12/16/the-doctors-strike-protesting-ugandan-medics-freed-on-bail/
Ugandan medical workers who were arrested while marching to parliament to demand better pay and working conditions have been released on police bond.
Ugandan medical workers who were arrested while marching to parliament to demand better pay and working conditions have been released on police bond.
The group of 27 senior and intern health workers had been taken to the Central Police station following their arrest in the capital Kampala.
The marchers had initially decided to sit down in the street when police stopped them.Both senior and intern doctors in the country are on strike.
The medical workers’ strike started early last month, but escalated this week, following an order from the health ministry that all striking intern doctors should vacate their bases at public health facilities within a week.
The ministry also threatened the interns that if they did not complete their rotation, they would not get their practicing licences.
The strike has now been joined by pharmacists, nurses and other trainee medical workers. The in-coming group of interns have also announced that they will not start their training unless their senior colleagues’ demands are met.
The medical interns and senior house officers – those training to become specialists – form the bulk of the healthcare staff in the country.
The interns are paid 750,000 Ugandan Shilling (£160; $210) per month during their placement.
Senior doctors join medical interns strike
https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/senior-doctors-join-medical-interns-strike--3652138
What you need to know:
- The specialised doctors also condemned the firing of the medical interns.
Senior House Officers (specialising doctors) from Makerere and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) have resolved to join the strike by doctors and medical interns until government fulfils its pledges to them.
In a December 13 statement, Mr Asaph Owamukama, the Senoir House Officer representative to the Uganda Medical Association (UMA), said: “The issues that have been repeatedly raised by Uganda Medical Association including inadequate medical supplies and equipment, underprivileged working conditions as well as poor remuneration are bonafide and affect us as well.”
“This is, therefore, to bring to your attention that Senior House Officers will be joining the strike effective December 15 and will continue to abide by directives from UMA,” Mr Owamukama added.
Mr Owamukama, however, said they will only handle emergencies at Mulago, Kawempe, and Kiruddu hospitals as guided by UMA.
The chief resident of MUST, Mr Brian Ssenkumba, also notified their dean of Faculty of Medicine that their strike has commenced.
This comes three days after the Ministry of Health fired all the striking medical interns and ordered them to leave government hospital premises within the week to pave way for new entrants slated to join in January 2022.
Mr Owamukama condemned the firing of the medical interns and demanded that the decision be reversed within two days’ time.
Health rights’ activists have also threatened to sue government if it does not rescind the dismissal of the medical interns to allow dialogue.
According to a December 13 press statement from the Centre for Health Human Rights & Development (Cehurd), the Ministry of Health failed to resolve grievances that led to the strike and resorted to unlawful and irregular means of solving lawful industrial action.
“We hereby request that the directive be recalled within a period of two days. Failure of this, we will be forced to seek redress from courts of law,” the press statement reads in part.
“We have, therefore, issued this request to the director general of Health Services, a copy is copied to the Attorney General, as a notice of our client’s intention to sue if the said irregular and illegal directive by yourself is not recalled within the time herein,” it added.
However, the Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, said government is yet to come out with a final plan on what it intends to do.
“Senior doctors who want to join the strike are free to do so because it is their decision. Those who feel like they should work, let them continue working. Government will also come out with its plans,” Dr Aceng said yesterday while launching a mass vaccination campaign in Mbarara District.
Ms Aceng asked the interns, who are “remorseful”, to return to their workstations and complete their training because the government will pay them in a week.
“We must take note that internship is a training period. It is not work and these interns are not public servants. They are free to make any decision not to train because they are the ones to lose, not us. My advice to them is that they should stop misbehaving and let the government fulfil its pledge,” Ms Aceng said.
“The process for their supplementary budget was completed and their money will be ready in one week and the money will be on their account,” Dr Aceng added.
Some of the doctors’ demands
After a meeting with President Museveni on December 2, Dr Herbert Luswata, the general secretary of UMA, said the President had agreed to enhance doctors’ salaries in the next financial year and give each doctor a tax-free vehicle.
Mr Museveni reportedly also ordered the minister of Health to ask for all the money she needs to address the problem of unreliable supply of personal protective equipment for health workers.
UMA said in the President’s commitment, the salary of medical officers will be increased to Shs5 million, senior medical consultants (Shs17m), and intern doctors (Shs2.5m). Intern doctors currently earn Shs750, 000, entry-level doctors (Shs3m) and consultants (Shs7.3m).
Doctors under their umbrella body Uganda Medical Association appearing before Parliament’s Health Committee.
Doctors vow to continue strike until their demands are met
https://www.independent.co.ug/doctors-vow-to-continue-strike-until-their-demands-are-met/
December 9, 2021
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Attempts by lawmakers to convince medical workers in government hospitals and health centres to review their industrial action were futile, with the medics vowing to continue the strike until their demands are met.
Medical workers countrywide took to industrial action weeks ago, demanding a raise in salary and health insurance. They further complained about lack of medical supplies.
While meeting the doctors under their umbrella body, Uganda Medical Association (UMA), on Wednesday, 8 December 2021, MPs on the Health Committee asked the medics to exercise patience while government looks into their demands.
Obongi County MP, George Bhoka Didi, explained that whilst Parliament approved a supplementary budget to facilitate medical workers, its implementation would take a while.
“Salary increment is a genuine demand and I have been a victim of the meager pay while still in the practice. My prayer is that the doctors resume work based on the core value to save humanity and lives,” he said.
Committee Vice Chairperson, Joel Ssebikaali, reassured the doctors that government’s commitment to ensure enhanced remuneration of medical workers is a work in progress and will eventually be implemented.
“It is a process to release the money passed in the supplementary budget. Let us exercise patience,” said Sebikali.
Bernard Kirya Sekyanzi, Budyebo County MP said that government’s overall goal is to improve service delivery in the health sector, which according to him takes some time. “I request that you go back to work and we serve the country,” he said.
Victor Nekesa, UPDF representative implored the doctors to change their attitude towards work, saying that they swore to save lives.
“While government is working towards meeting demands of medical workers, they need to uphold their morals and continue with work,” she said.
Kenny Auma, Kwania district MP however urged legislators to ensure that the demands of the medical workers are expeditiously handled, saying that the doctors deserve better salary pay.
“Doctors are working hard under harsh conditions. They need to be motivated and those who were killed by Covid-19 while trying to save lives should be compensated,” she said.
The Chairperson Uganda Medical Association in charge of welfare, Dr. Aaron Nahabwe, said as medical workers enter day 15 of industrial action, they would not resume work until the supplementary budget is implemented.
“I work in Mulago Hospital and I buy my own masks and yet we are told that the supplementary budget was passed. We need the presidential directive implemented,” he said.
Regarding filling vacant positions in government health facilities, Nahabwe said that the minimum demand is that an advert is published by the health service commission.
The Deputy Secretary-General UMA and Secretary-General of the Federation of Uganda Medical Interns, Dr. Faith Nabushawo, said intern doctors are subjected to working long hours and they no longer receive pay.
Commenting on the interns pay, the Secretary General UMA, Dr. Herbert Luswata said they are avoiding a repeat of what happened in 2019 when a supplementary budget was passed and remuneration of interns included but to date, no money has been paid.
The Vice Chairperson, UMA, Dr. Edith Nakku said that as government works on meeting the immediate demands of medical workers, they expect salary enhancements for officers and other consultants by July 2022.
She added that Ministry of Public Service and the Health Service Commission together with Ministry of Health should fill the vacant and already funded positions in the designated civil service establishment in July 2022.
“Doctors are a frustrated lot of people. We need a task force to oversee the implementation process of these presidential directives. The challenge in the past four years is that there are these promises and goodwill but no implementation,” said Nakku.
She informed the MPs that government ought to budget for an estimated Shs1.6 billion to implement their demands in 2022.
While addressing the nation in 2017 and in June 2021, President Museveni said doctors’ salaries will be increased from Shs2.5 million to Shs5 million.
Human rights body backs striking Ugandan doctors accused of illegality
https://www.africanews.com/2017/11/11/human-rights-body-backs-striking-ugandan-doctors-accused-of-illegality/
The Ugandan Medical Association (UMA) has been on strike since Monday despite threats by the government which is accusing them of staging an illegal action.
The protest against low salaries and shortage of essential medical supplies in public hospitals follows unsuccessful talks with the government resulting in reported threats of arrest and disciplinary action.
Ugandan human rights advocacy group Chapter Four has backed the doctors saying they have the legal right to embark on an industrial action.
“The fundamental right to strike is an intrinsic corollary of the right to freedom of association. The Uganda Medical Association therefore should remain calm as the collective decision to conduct the industrial action is well grounded in law,” they said in a statement.
The group advised the government to stop “intimidating the doctors and engage them urgently to resolve the matter”.
“UMA should continue to engage with the government to have their demands addressed. UMA members should remain peaceful and act lawfully during the period of the industrial action,” it added.
The doctors were ordered by President Yoweri Museveni to return to work or face disciplinary action as he described the strike as illegal.
“I have a circular from the President with me directing the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) to monitor all activities in health facilities in their districts. All health workers who adhere to this directive shall not be subjected to any disciplinary action,” said the Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng.
The UMA responded with a threat of withdrawing emergency services if the government does not stop its threats.
“The negative action by the minister of health has threatened the progress made with Prime Minister [Ruhakana Rugunda] and the doctors’ fraternity. The doctors are considering immediate withdrawal of emergency health services,” local newspaper Daily Monitor quotes UMA president Dr Ekwaro Obuku.
The doctors are currently rendering services to children, pregnant women and accident victims.
Mulago interns refuse to call off strike
https://eagle.co.ug/2016/05/09/mulago-interns-refuse-call-off-strike.html