By our reporter
Doctors have insisted on keeping their strike moving regardless of government threats to force them back to work.
Uganda Medical Association President Dr. Ekwaro Obuku while addressing media on Friday in response to government’s directive to halt doctors’ industrial strike, said they are going to maintain their industrial strike over poor pay and are going to scale up emergencies.
Yesterday, health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng while addressing the media declared the strike illegal observing that Uganda Medical Association (UMA) which organized the strike is not a registered union to lobby for labour rights.
She ordered all doctors and intern doctors to resume work at once; directs UMA officials to stop interfering with Association members willing to work; promised protection for doctors who get back to work; and, says intern doctors who fail to comply will have their internships terminated and have to reapply.
The medical workers declared strike on Monday at their annual general assembly held at Makerere University College of Health Sciences in Mulago which strike has paralyzed health care services in all public hospitals across the country.
Apparently, doctors demand increment in salaries and duty allowances of health professionals, review the supply chain and management of medicines, vaccines and medical supplies, as well as disband the State House Medicine and Health Service Delivery Monitoring Unit.
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