Doctors Strike Continues Amid Calls to End It

In a tweet, the Minister of State for Primary Health Care Margaret Muhanga said the doctors signed up for their profession well knowing the paycheck. The Minister of Health Jane Ruth Aceng, while in Lira also said the doctors should act mature and head back to the wards.

While appearing on Morning Breeze this morning, the spokesperson Ministry of Health, Ainebyona Emmanuel said government position is that they are committed to making the working environment of doctors better and their demands are legitimate but must go through the due processes. He urged doctors to end the industrial action for the sake of patients.

The Ministry’s position is always stated on paper and always signed off, the government position was stated by the Prime Minister through a letter,” said Emmanuel Ainebyona.

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VIDEO: Tweets from Ministers don't reflect the position of @MinofHealthUG. – @ainbyoo #NBSMorningBreeze #NBSUpdates pic.twitter.com/IM1zXB3y0r

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Dr. Herbert Luswata, the Secretary General Uganda Medical Association pointed out that the government nolonger respects dialogue, the only language they understand is strike. He added the health budget allocation of 6.1% is too low.

Our health budget is about 6.1% of the national budget. The Abuja declaration says that 15% of the budget be put on health. If you have it at 15%, it means you will have enough money to buy supplies and medicines for these hospitals, Dr. Herbert Luswata.

Dr. Warren Tumwine appeared on Face Off on Sunday evening and he said the industrial action continues until their demands are met,

 We are not in the industrial action because we don’t want to work. We are saying that we didn’t go to school for all those years to become missionaries,” Dr. Warren Tumwine.