By our reporter
All striking doctors have been asked to quit hospital premises as government embarks on a recruitment process of new doctors who are willing to work under the current public service terms.
This comes at a backdrop after government deploying military doctors from the UPDF, Police and Uganda Prisons at Mulago National Referral Hospital to handle emergency cases as doctors’ strike intensifies.
Army spokesperson Brig.Richard Karemire said the deployment in hospitals aims at providing critical emergency services to patients.
According to the UPDF mouthpiece, the move comes in effect after a request by the Ministry of Health for reinforcement from the army in hospitals following the strike by medical workers around the country.
Recently, 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 last week 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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