• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Lifestyle
Health ministry PS, Atwine, in trouble over Shs 1.2 billion for nodding disease

How Government Arrived At Decision to Employ Cuban Doctors

May 2, 2018
The Wamala art gives a sneak peak of his art prowess ahead of the Guinness Bright House 

The Wamala art gives a sneak peak of his art prowess ahead of the Guinness Bright House 

July 1, 2022
Civil society fears EACOP will worsen corruption

Civil society fears EACOP will worsen corruption

July 1, 2022
“We must fight until this country is free,” says Besigye after release on bail

“We must fight until this country is free,” says Besigye after release on bail

July 1, 2022
I&M Bank Uganda joins Kabaka birthday run

I&M Bank Uganda joins Kabaka birthday run

July 1, 2022
Fundación Xcalibur, MTN launch the first social sports academy in Uganda 

Fundación Xcalibur, MTN launch the first social sports academy in Uganda 

July 1, 2022
Sports journalists receive kits for this year’s Kabaka birthday run from Airtel

Sports journalists receive kits for this year’s Kabaka birthday run from Airtel

July 1, 2022

Uganda elected to the board of continental standardisation body

July 1, 2022
Big interview: Doctors deserve better pay, says UMA’s Samuel Oledo

Big interview: Doctors deserve better pay, says UMA’s Samuel Oledo

July 1, 2022
Lumumba’s tooth finally buried in DR Congo, 60 years after he was killed

Lumumba’s tooth finally buried in DR Congo, 60 years after he was killed

July 1, 2022
China’s CCCC donates computers to Ugandan scouts

China’s CCCC donates computers to Ugandan scouts

July 1, 2022
Logo
  • News
    • Business
    • 2021 Elections Watch
      • The Election Podcast
    • Exclusive
    • Investigations
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Security
    • Cyber Security
  • Health
    • Coronavirus outbreak
  • Opinions
    • Columns
      • Parting Shot
      • Two Sides of a Coin
      • Bazanye’s Quick Shots
      • Mable Twegumye Zake’s #BitsOfMe&You
      • But this Year!
      • What Did I Miss?
  • Lifestyle
    • Hatmahz Kitchen
    • Food Hub
    • Let’s Talk About Sex
    • Entertainment
    • Tour & Travel
    • Love Therapist
    • Homes
  • Global
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • The Americas
  • East Africa
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
    • Ethiopia
    • Sudan
  • Technology
  • Special Reports
    • Kabaka Mutebi’s 25th Coronation Series
    • Focus on Somalia
    • Sino-Africa
    • Uganda at 56
    • Anti-Corruption Fight
    • Age Limit Map
    • Tuve Ku Kaveera
  • Sports
    • Place-It
    • StarTimes Uganda Premier League
    • Bundesliga
    • World Cup
  • Jobs
No Result
View All Result
Logo
No Result
View All Result
Home News Featured

How Government Arrived At Decision to Employ Cuban Doctors

Kenneth Kazibwe by Kenneth Kazibwe
May 2, 2018
in Featured, Health, News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Health ministry PS, Atwine, in trouble over Shs 1.2 billion for nodding disease

The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has quizzed officials from the Ministry of Health to explain the genesis of the decision to employ Cuban doctors in the country’s health facilities.

Government recently announced it would employ over 200 Cuban doctors in the countryside and hard to reach health facilities all over the country, a matter which has attracted debate.

ADVERTISEMENT

On Wednesday, health ministry officials led by the Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwiine were tasked to explain how they arrived at the decision to bring in the foreign doctors despite the presence of a number of locally and equally qualified doctors in the country.

AD-03 AD-03 AD-03
ADVERTISEMENT

“How did you arrive at the decision of how much they (Cuban doctor) should earn, who prepared this and where did this come from,” MP Gerald Karuhanga questioned.

The legislators sitting on the Public Accounts committee quizzed the officials on the thinking behind the move and why government has continuously ignored the plight of the local doctors which recently forced them to lay down tools.

ADVERTISEMENT

In response, Dr. Atwiine explained that a meeting sat and among the options presented to solve the problem of striking doctors was to hire Cubans to do the job.

“The  meeting was widely attended by representatives from  Ministries; Finance, Health, Public Service,  Gender and Labour , Health Service Commission and in that meeting, the president (Museveni)  asked that why don’t we look at alternatives if we are going to be put to ransom(by the doctors),” Dr Atwiine told PAC  on Wednesday.

“There were a number of discussions in that meeting and he (president) instructed the Prime Minister to ensure we look at that option(of bringing Cuban doctors). The decision stayed up at the time because people were looking at how best this can be done.”

Asked to explain whether she did not have any technical input in the decision to bring in Cuban doctors since the issue falls under directly her minister insisted that the decision was suggested and brought on board by President Museveni.

Dr.Atwiine explained to parliament   that a team from Uganda was later sent to consult the Cuban government over the feasibility of the deal.

According to her, the Minister for Health, Dr. Ruth Aceng, and the Chairman Health Service Commission, Solicitor General, Permanent Secretary Public Service and Chairman Medical council among other officials went to Cuba to be part of the consultations on the deal which has since turned contentious.

It is reported that each of the Cubans will be paid $1500 per month which is roughly Shs 5.4 million whereas the local doctors earn between one million shillings to 4.5 million depending on experience and specialization.

The legislators wondered why government could not raise half of the money it intends to give the Cubans to pay the local doctors which would motivate them greatly.

The MPs also wondered how government is to deal with local medical personnel who are supposed to assist the Cuban doctors yet they have been demoralized by continuing to be dismissive of their demands.

President Museveni on Tuesday justified the move to hire Cuban doctors by government saying the local doctors behaved badly and unprofessionally when they went on strike last year.

“They are selfish people, we cannot tolerate them, we fought for no pay for many years, when we got victory we were working for low pay, these soldiers have been fighting and working for either no pay or low pay, why do they never go on strike?” Museveni said during Labour Day celebrations in Ssembabule district on Tuesday.

“A doctor who goes on strike is not a doctor, he is an enemy of our people and we shall treat him as such. In fact I wanted to go back to the bush but I was restrained,” he added.

The furious Museveni lashed out at the doctors for trading in “nonsense talk” by trying to blackmail him.

The president added, “We are not against paying the others but if we don’t have enough money now, should we say that we pay no body? Or if we have some money whom do we start with, we chose science people because it is very difficult to retain them.”

Museveni’s comments had been sparked by National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) chairman general Usher Wilson Owere who had implored him to reconsider the Cuban Doctors issue before asking him to  increase salaries for workers.

 

 

Tags: cuban doctorsDoctors strikemedics strikemuseveni blasts medicsmuseveni doctorsuganda to hire cuban doctors
Share472TweetSend
Previous Post

Govt ordered to pay Bassajjabalaba for arrest in Shs 142 billion trial

Next Post

Kawempe, Naguru, Kiruddu approved as semi-autonomous referral hospitals

Kenneth Kazibwe

Kenneth Kazibwe

Related Posts

Civil society fears EACOP will worsen corruption

Civil society fears EACOP will worsen corruption

by Jonah Kirabo
July 1, 2022
0

Civil society groups have responded to the government's claims on the benefits of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP),...

“We must fight until this country is free,” says Besigye after release on bail

“We must fight until this country is free,” says Besigye after release on bail

by Jonah Kirabo
July 1, 2022
0

Political activist and People’s Front for Transition (PFT) leader Dr. Kizza Besigye has urged Ugandans not to be intimidated with...

I&M Bank Uganda joins Kabaka birthday run

I&M Bank Uganda joins Kabaka birthday run

by Amon Katungulu
July 1, 2022
0

In a bid to re-affirm the bank’s commitment to support and give back to the community, I&M Bank Uganda has...

Sports journalists receive kits for this year’s Kabaka birthday run from Airtel

Sports journalists receive kits for this year’s Kabaka birthday run from Airtel

by Amon Katungulu
July 1, 2022
0

In preparation for  the upcoming Kabaka Birthday Run slated for Sunday, July, 3, telecom company, Airtel Uganda has given out...

Next Post
Kawempe, Naguru, Kiruddu approved as semi-autonomous referral hospitals

Kawempe, Naguru, Kiruddu approved as semi-autonomous referral hospitals

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
“My life is in danger” journalist who broke the story on Speaker’s Shs 2.8 bn cars cries out

“My life is in danger” journalist who broke the story on Speaker’s Shs 2.8 bn cars cries out

June 28, 2022
Museveni to continue with army meetings amidst internal unsettlement rumors

Museveni to continue with army meetings amidst internal unsettlement rumors

June 26, 2022

Pastor who divorced wife for denying him conjugal rights for 10 years advises women to deny men sex if they are not developing

June 28, 2022
The Wamala art gives a sneak peak of his art prowess ahead of the Guinness Bright House 

The Wamala art gives a sneak peak of his art prowess ahead of the Guinness Bright House 

July 1, 2022
Civil society fears EACOP will worsen corruption

Civil society fears EACOP will worsen corruption

July 1, 2022
“We must fight until this country is free,” says Besigye after release on bail

“We must fight until this country is free,” says Besigye after release on bail

July 1, 2022
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Careers
Call us: +256-417-720-101
Email: [email protected]

© 2020 Nile Post Uganda Ltd. - A Next Media Services Company.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Business
    • 2021 Elections Watch
      • The Election Podcast
    • Exclusive
    • Investigations
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Security
    • Cyber Security
  • Health
    • Coronavirus outbreak
  • Opinions
    • Columns
      • Parting Shot
      • Two Sides of a Coin
      • Bazanye’s Quick Shots
      • Mable Twegumye Zake’s #BitsOfMe&You
      • But this Year!
      • What Did I Miss?
  • Lifestyle
    • Hatmahz Kitchen
    • Food Hub
    • Let’s Talk About Sex
    • Entertainment
    • Tour & Travel
    • Love Therapist
    • Homes
  • Global
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • The Americas
  • East Africa
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
    • Ethiopia
    • Sudan
  • Technology
  • Special Reports
    • Kabaka Mutebi’s 25th Coronation Series
    • Focus on Somalia
    • Sino-Africa
    • Uganda at 56
    • Anti-Corruption Fight
    • Age Limit Map
    • Tuve Ku Kaveera
  • Sports
    • Place-It
    • StarTimes Uganda Premier League
    • Bundesliga
    • World Cup
  • Jobs

© 2020 Nile Post Uganda Ltd. - A Next Media Services Company.