Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi has warned medical interns that they risk losing their internship placements if they fail to report to their assigned health facilities by August 15, as a standoff over their welfare and training conditions continues.
The warning was issued in Parliament on Wednesday after Opposition Leader Joel Ssenyonyi raised concerns over the decision by medical interns not to report to their designated duty stations.
Ssenyonyi tabled a letter from the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) outlining the interns’ grievances and warning of possible industrial action by doctors across the country if the government fails to resolve the dispute.
Baryomunsi, however, maintained that interns are expected to report for duty as government works to address their concerns.
“On the 15th of this month, I will ask the directors of the hospitals to give me an update in terms of who has reported, and those who will not have reported will be considered to have forfeited their placement for internship as we handle their issues,” Baryomunsi said.
He urged the interns to resume work, assuring them that government was taking their concerns seriously.
“Please, the interns who are watching, report [to duty]. Let the interns report as their issues get handled, because we respect them, we respect what they are raising, and we feel concerned about them,” he added.
The standoff stems from concerns over the welfare of medical interns, including the costs associated with transport, accommodation and feeding during their mandatory one-year internship.
According to Ssenyonyi, some interns have failed to report to their postings because they cannot afford to travel to facilities located far from their homes or meet the cost of living while stationed there.
“These people are saying they are not students; they are medical doctors who are now on practice for the one year that is mandatory,” Ssenyonyi told Parliament.
The interns have also raised concerns about a contested training policy, with their representatives calling for its withdrawal before they resume duty.
The dispute could extend beyond the interns.
Ssenyonyi told Parliament that UMA had warned that doctors countrywide could lay down their tools if the government does not resolve the issue of facilitating medical interns within 14 days.
He said the association had indicated that only emergency care and essential life-saving services would continue during any industrial action.
The Opposition Leader also questioned the working conditions faced by interns, particularly the long hours they reportedly spend at health facilities.
He cited recent nighttime inspections by Minister Baryomunsi, arguing that medical interns were often among those carrying out much of the work at health facilities.
“How do we expect them to go and do the heavy lifting? Sometimes they are on their postings for 48 hours non-stop. We need a response to this matter,” Ssenyonyi said.
The August 15 deadline now puts pressure on both government and the interns to find common ground, with the future of the affected internship placements hanging in the balance.
