By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
The minister of health Dr. Jane Ruth Acheng has disclosed that government is unable to deploy over1,900 pre-medical interns over lack of funds.
She made revelations today on the floor of parliament when she informed the house that the Shs22.9 billion released by the finance ministry is not for the deployment of pre-medical interns, but to pay arrears of the 935 interns who completed internship in April.
According to Aceng, the ministry requires Shs80.4 billion to deploy over 1900 interns which she says is not available making the ministry unable to deploy them until funds are made available.
“For 1901 interns, we require 80.4 billion shillings to deploy them and out of that money, the Ministry of Finance gave us 8 billion shillings for interns and 2 billion for senior house officers. So we are not able to deploy them [interns] until we are sure that the 80.4 billion will be provided,” Aceng told MPs.
In a special sitting to honor the late justice of the supreme court, Lady Justice Stella Arach Amoko yesterday, the speaker of parliament Annet Annitah Among Magogo directed prime minister Rt Hon. Robinah Nabbanja Musafiri to work on the plight of the intern doctors with arrears and ensure deployment of over 1900 pre-medical interns.
“Prime Minister during the budget day [government promised to address cries of interns], kindly make a fall-up and ensure that the 1900 interns are deployed and are paid,” Rt Hon Among said.
“We will be very grateful to receive a report from you on the payment of the interns and deployment of those interns. After the 1900 are paid, there is an accumulation of 4000 interns yet to be deployed and to be paid. This would help us legislature to plan better on how much money should always be given to help so that they can be able to save lives,” she added.
