By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
HEALTH REPORT:
Dr. Kiiza Besigye’s new political transition group, The Front Red card has expressed concerns over the increasing commercialization of medical schools which they say worsens the quality of healthworkers in the country.
“Highly commercialized and poorly regulated training of healthcare workers is also promoting an output of substandard medics that put patients’ lives in danger,” PFT says.
The remarks were made during the Front’s end of year press conference held at People’s Government Katonga Road head offices on Tuesday.
Speaking during the conference, Dr. Kiiza Besigye, the front’s National Chairman said that Uganda spends much resources on training medics later run out of the country in pursuit for greener pasture jobs abroad. He said the squandering of doctors by the government has resulted into lowest number of doctors as compared to the population.
Dr. Besigye remarks follow announcement by over 10,000 laboratory technicians working in government hospitals threatening to lay down their tools of service protesting low pay and poor working conditions.
The medical laboratory technicians strike follow another ongoing strike by medical interns and senior doctors in government hospitals across the country who are demonstrating against low pay, poor facilities at their workplaces and compensation for doctors that contracted or died of covid-19 among other underlying reasons.
The People’s Front for Transition say, the endless strike by the healthcare workers sharply worsens the shambolic state of healthcare in Uganda.
They have asked government to urgently give a lasting solution to this challenge.
“The Immense healthcare crisis needs urgent and comprehensive attention!” PFT said.
