The Ministry of Health has announced the allocation of Shs35 billion for the deployment and allowance payments of medical interns and Senior House Officers (SHOs) for the fiscal year 2024/2025. This funding, however, falls short of the amount required to deploy all eligible medical graduates, leading to selective placements.
Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng revealed that the allocated Shs35 billion is intended to cover the 12-month internship period for both medical interns and SHOs.
Each medical intern is to receive a monthly allowance of Shs1,000,000, with an additional Shs300,000 allocated for Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax, totaling Shs1,300,000 per month. This brings the annual cost per intern to Shs15,600,000. Similarly, SHOs receive comparable allowances.
The ministry's budget permits the deployment of 1,500 medical interns and 743 SHOs. However, there are 2,706 interns eligible for deployment, creating a shortfall that leaves 1,206 medical graduates without placements.
Dr. Aceng emphasized that deploying all eligible interns would require an additional Shs18.8 billion, which is currently unavailable.Given the budget constraints, the ministry has prioritized the deployment of the 2023 cohort and previous years, totaling 1,435 medical interns.
The remaining 65 positions will be allocated to Dental Surgeons (22) and government-sponsored pharmacists from the 2024 cohort (43), professions identified as being in short supply.
The reduction in funding from Shs46 billion in the previous fiscal year to Shs35.6 billion has exacerbated the challenges faced by the ministry.
Last year's deployment of 1,901 medical interns strained the system, leading to inadequate supervision and sub-optimal learning experiences.
Dr. Aceng highlighted the need for recruiting more specialists to supervise interns and expanding the number of internship training centers to accommodate the growing number of medical graduates.
Prof. Medi Kawuma of the Health Service Commission suggested that the government expedite the regulation of student enrollment in medical courses to address the issue.
He noted that many medical schools are producing underprepared graduates due to inadequate training resources.
Additionally, delayed internship deployments result in graduates forgetting much of what they learned.
The Ministry of Finance has indicated that allocations are made based on the available resource envelope, and it is challenging to meet every need fully.
Finance Ministry spokesperson Mr. Jim Mugunga stated,
"We allocate money based on the resource envelope. I am not aware of a single need that can be 100 percent funded."
The funding shortfall for medical intern deployment underscores the pressing need for strategic planning and resource allocation within Uganda's healthcare system.
Addressing these challenges is crucial to ensure that medical graduates receive the necessary training and experience to serve the nation's healthcare needs effectively.
Join the Daily West Nile WhatsApp group now to never miss an update from us.Download Host Media Now from the Play Store to watch HostTV, listen to Host Radio Live, and stay informed—all in one convenient app!
