Health Ministry needs extra Shs18 billion for medical interns
This revelation was contained in a statement to the House by the Minister of State for Health [General duties], Anifa Kawooya yesterday.
KAMPALA, August 7, 2024 – The Ministry of Health needs more Shs18 billion to deploy medical interns who recently expressed their displeasure over government’s failure to place them in various health facilities in the country.
This revelation was contained in a statement to the House by the Minister of State for Health [General duties], Anifa Kawooya yesterday.
Kawooya said that a total of 2,706 medical interns are eligible for deployment but only 1,500 have been placed across the 73 internship centres for one year.
She noted that lack of adequate funding to the ministry which received only Shs 35bln and yet a total of Shs 18 billion is required to deploy all the interns.
“According to the ministry’s internship training guidelines, one specialist supervises four medical interns to ensure effective knowledge transfer and skills development,” she said, adding that, “consideration has been made for dental surgeons and pharmacists.”
Legislators disagreed with the minister on deploying only government sponsored students arguing that even the private sponsored ones must be deployed.
Mawogola County South Member of Parliament, Goreth Namugga Goreth insisted that government finds the Shs18bln that is needed for the medical interns.
She emphasised that if entities like Roko could be budgeted for, then money could be availed for the interns.
“In the interest of continuity, let us find the Shs18 billion. Let us look into the classified budget. Even if it means getting the money from State House,” she said.
Koboko Municipality MP, Dr. Charles Ayume agreed with Namugga and urged the Health ministry to urgently find money to pay the interns.
“We find money and pay the interns and we reset the clock to zero,” he said.
Kabale Municipality MP, Nicholas Kamara stressed the need for regulation. “Some universities recommend 100 students but graduate 300 students. How is that possible?” asked Kamara.
Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa who chaired the sitting suggested that the ministry considers the option of allowing private students to be deployed without pay, especially if they are willing to meet the costs.
Minister Kawooya pledged to find solutions by looking into funding and recruiting more specialist supervisors and opening up more internship training centres.
She added that the Health ministry will coordinate with the Ministries of Finance and Education for a lasting solution to the problems of interns.
According to experts, an internship for medical students enhances the future doctors’ mental, technical, and behavioral skills they require to manage patients with professionalism and expertise. The internships nurture the development and communication skills of medical interns, which is essential to progress in the medical industry.
https://thecooperator.news/health-ministry-confirms-two-cases-of-imported-mpox-in-uganda/
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