The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has asked the Ministry of Health to urgently allocate supplementary funds for the deployment of medical interns, highlighting a significant budget shortfall of around Ugx 18.5 billion as a major obstacle.

The demand comes after the government failed to deploy over 1,500 medical interns who qualified in 2023 and 2024, including doctors, dental surgeons, nurses/midwives, and pharmacy graduates.

Dr. Herbert Luswata, a representative of UMA, during a press conference held at Mulago Guest House on August 5, 2024, expressed serious concern over the ongoing delays in deploying the essential healthcare workers.

“It is unacceptable that despite available internship placements, the government has not acted to integrate these qualified professionals into the health system,” Dr. Luswata said.

He emphasized that the consistent underfunding of the health sector exacerbates this critical issue.

UMA has urged the government to prioritize the health of Ugandans by addressing the deployment of interns without further delay.

“We call for improved planning by the Ministries of Health and Education & Sports to break the cycle of strikes among interns and senior house officers,” Dr. Luswata added.

In addition, UMA is advocating for the enactment of the internship and senior house officer training policies proposed by the association.

“These policies aim to ensure quality medical training and provide well-supported apprenticeship opportunities for new graduates,” UMA stated.

The Uganda Medical Association currently represents approximately 8,500 doctors in Uganda and the diaspora, underscoring the collective voice of medical professionals advocating for better conditions and support within the healthcare system.