President Museveni orders employment of all medical doctors

President Yoweri Museveni has directed the newly appointed Prime Minister and The Minister of Health to ensure that all qualified doctors are absorbed into government health facilities up to sub-county level countrywide.

 

Speaking after the reading of the national budget at Kololo ceremonial grounds on Thursday, Museveni said; “on human capital, I hereby direct the Health Minister-designate and the Prime Minister-designate to absorb all qualified doctors in the country into health facilities up to sub-county level.”

 

The Prime Minister-designate is Kakumiro woman Member of Parliament (MP), Robinah Nabbanja, while Health Minister-designate is the Lira City woman MP, Ruth Aceng.

 

The President added that he expects more doctors to be appointed and absorbed to serve at sub-county level in this new term.

He was responding to concerns by some health practitioners who revealed to him that there are some doctors who are unemployed or underemployed in the private sector.

 

There are 150,000 registered health workers in the country, according to data from the health ministry, but many have shunned public health facilities, especially in upcountry health facilities.

 

As a result, the doctors have resorted to engaging in private practice, while others have gone abroad in search of greener pastures.