Museveni Orders Salary Increment for Medical Interns

President Yoweri Museveni has recommended an increment in the allowances of medical interns.

According to the President, the current allowances paid to interns are not enough to meet their requirements.

In a letter seen by this publication, the President recommends that medical interns' pay be increased from sh750,000 to sh2,500,000. A graduate medical doctor employed by the government earns sh5,000,000.

The development follows a meeting held by the President and the leadership of the Uganda Medical Association, the Federation of the Uganda Medical Interns, and officials from the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

'It was noted that medical interns (medical doctors, dental surgeons, pharmacists, graduate nurses, and midwives earn a net pay of sh750,000 which is not enough to meet their basic needs, ' he said, adding: ' Most of them are not housed and live in unsafe rented locations distant from training hospitals; they are not provided meals and have to buy and cook their own food, yet they work 24/7 and have no time to cook.'

Therefore, the president  said medical interns have to earn at least half of what medical doctors earn, which is sh2,500,000. He also directed increments for graduate trainee pharmacists, midwives, and nurses, saying they, too, should earn half pay of their respective senior officers.

'In this regard, I am, therefore, directing you to implement this resolution in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Finance,' the President wrote in a letter dated August 9 to the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, who is the leader of government business.