Uganda Ministry of Health: No Allowances for Medical Interns

• Uganda's medical interns have threatened to boycott deployment to health facilities over scrapped monthly allowances.
• The Ministry of Health has reclassified internship as a continuation of training rather than formal employment, sparking resistance from interns.
• Medical interns are demanding an allowance equivalent to 70 percent of the salary paid to fully licensed doctors.

The standoff between Uganda's Ministry of Health and medical interns has reached a boiling point, with interns threatening to boycott deployment to health facilities unless their monthly allowances are reinstated. The allowances were scrapped under a new internship policy announced by Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi in June, which reclassified internship as a continuation of training rather than formal employment. This decision has left medical graduates who have already completed five and a half years of training feeling undervalued and overworked.

The Federation of Uganda Medical Interns argues that the workload and responsibilities carried by interns warrant financial compensation, with some working up to 36 hours in hospitals. The federation is now appealing to President Museveni to intervene in the dispute, demanding an allowance equivalent to 70 percent of the salary paid to fully licensed doctors.

The crisis has been brewing for months, with medical interns receiving a monthly allowance of Shs2.5 million in 2021, which was reduced to Shs1 million in 2022 before being scrapped entirely under the new policy.

The Ministry of Health's decision to scrap allowances for medical interns marks a significant shift in policy, with government-sponsored interns now receiving facilitation but no longer a monthly allowance. This change has been met with resistance from medical interns, who argue that their workload and responsibilities justify financial compensation. The federation points out that internship is not just a continuation of training, but also an opportunity for medical graduates to gain practical experience and develop their skills.

The Ministry of Health maintains that internship is part of professional training and therefore should not attract a salary. However, the federation argues that this stance ignores the reality of interns' workloads and responsibilities in hospitals.

As deployment for the 2026/2027 internship term begins, medical interns are preparing to remain at home until their demands are met. The federation has warned hospital managers that any action taken against interns who fail to report will be seen as a threat to their safety and well-being. With the matter now in the hands of President Museveni, it remains to be seen whether the government will intervene to resolve the dispute.

The crisis highlights the need for healthcare providers to review their policies on intern compensation and ensure compliance with new Ministry of Health guidelines. This may require a re-evaluation of how interns are valued and compensated for their work.

This development may require Ugandan healthcare providers to review their policies on intern compensation and ensure compliance with the new Ministry of Health guidelines, which could impact their ability to attract and retain medical interns.

Source: Original reporting via AllAfrica Uganda