Health Minister appeals to medics to return to work

Minister for Health Dr. Jane Ruth Acheng has today appealed all medical doctors to immediately return to work as government works to address their concerns.
Today marks the third day since medics resorted to industrial action on Monday demanding for salary increments and improving of their welfare. However their strike has led to death of more than five people in the country as other patients walk in different hospitals and exit without being attended to.
‘’Government is yet to finalize the public service pay policy that is intended to eliminate pay disparities and ensure pay enhancement across public sector’’. She said
In a press briefing held at Uganda media, Dr. Acheng said government appreciates efforts of all patriotic health workers who have continued to deliver services to public despite challenges that they face in execution of their duties.
Government signed recognition agreements with Public Service Labour Unions for purposes of negotiation and collective bargaining on matters concerning the welfare and working conditions of workers.
For the workers in the Health Sector, Uganda Medical Workers’ Union and Uganda Nurses and Midwives’ Union signed recognition agreements therefore ‘’once again government would like to reiterate its commitment to improving the welfare of all health workers and other public servants in general’’ she added.
According to Dr. Acheng, government has resolved to maintain interns’ allowances at same rate as last year, without reduction and committed to pay senior health officers after completing the verification exercise.
Judicial officers, teachers, prosecutors, local government workers, have been striking over salary increments and improvement of their welfare however government vowed to harmonize their salaries before end of November.