Government has restored monthly facilitation for medical interns, with both government-sponsored and privately sponsored interns set to receive Shs1.2 million per month, subject to tax.
The decision was announced by Minister of Health Dr Chris Baryomunsi in Parliament on Tuesday as Cabinet reviews the national policy governing medical internship training.
Baryomunsi said the Cabinet resolution is to continue facilitating the current cohort of interns while government analyses the provisions of the internship policy.
“The resolution of Cabinet is to continue facilitating the current medical interns as government continues to analyse the provisions of medical interns in the internship policy,” Baryomunsi told MPs.
The decision effectively suspends the contested arrangement that would have differentiated facilitation for government-sponsored and privately sponsored medical interns.
2,490 interns to be placed
Baryomunsi said government has expanded the number of accredited internship centres to 77, allowing all 2,490 medical interns expected to begin their training this year to secure placement and supervision.
“This expansion is to ensure that all the 2,490 medical interns who will be starting this year have placement and supervision,” he said.
The announcement comes after weeks of tension between medical interns and government over their welfare and the proposed changes to internship facilitation.
The dispute had seen interns raise concerns about the proposed policy and their ability to meet costs associated with accommodation, transport and feeding during their mandatory training.
Eight pre-interns to have charges dropped
Baryomunsi also addressed the arrest of eight pre-interns who attempted to access Parliament last week to petition against changes to internship facilitation.
The Minister said the Health Ministry would engage the Judiciary and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to have the charges against the students dropped.
“As a Ministry, we will engage both the Judiciary and the DPP to have the charges against the eight students dropped,” he said.
Cabinet reviewing internship policy
The Minister also tabled the National Internship Policy before Parliament.
He said the policy is intended to streamline the training of medical professionals while establishing standards and competencies for internship training across the country.
“The National Internship Policy is intended to streamline the training of medics, set standards and competencies for medical professionals in the country,” Baryomunsi said.
The policy review comes against the backdrop of concerns raised by medical interns and their representatives over welfare, facilitation and the conditions under which internship training is conducted.
President raises tax exemption proposal
Baryomunsi further told Parliament that President Yoweri Museveni is of the view that salaries of medical professionals should be exempted from taxation, similar to the arrangement for security personnel.
“The President is of the view that salaries for the medical people should not be subjected to taxes like their counterparts in the security organ, but this is subject to discussion by the responsible stakeholders,” Baryomunsi said.
The proposal would, however, require discussions among the relevant stakeholders before any changes are made.
The restoration of the Shs1.2 million monthly facilitation and the decision to review the internship policy were welcomed by Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi and the Chairperson of Parliament’s Committee on Health.
The developments are expected to ease the standoff between medical interns and government as the Health Ministry and other stakeholders continue discussions on the future of internship training in Uganda.
