Govt Wants Fewer Doctors Trained in Uganda

In a country where one doctor attends to 25,000 patients, the government's 'unique' proposal will come as a surprise but it is being devised by people with the luxury of being flown out for medical care.

Faced with chronic failure to renumerate medical interns, the government is devising a unique solution: having few doctors, nursers and pharmacists in the country.

This, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa let the cat out of the bag, would involve a plan to regulate the number of medical students admitted to universities and medical schools each academic year.

Mr Tayebwa said this move aims to alleviate the pressures that medical interns place on the government as they demand allowances.

However, some Members of Parliament oppose this initiative, arguing that the country still needs more doctors.

According to the African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST), Uganda produces approximately 1,000 medical doctors annually from its accredited medical schools.

While many of these graduates are assigned to various internship centres, they frequently find themselves in disputes with the government over their allowances.

To prevent such conflicts, the government is now regulating the admissions of medical students.

“Proprietors of medical schools, you must agree with us; the government will have to regulate the admission numbers, and we hope you take this in good faith,” Tayebwa said.

“If you’re looking for money in a university, I can assure you, you’re in the wrong place. You’re just providing a service.”

Addressing surgeons in Bushenyi over the weekend, Tayebwa indicated that relevant authorities are already in consultations regarding the implementation of this regulation.

“I know the National Council for Higher Education has already begun discussions with the Medical Council and the Ministry of Health to determine the way forward. It’s not that we want to frustrate you; we want to move at a pace that is accommodative,” Tayebwa added.

Dr Herbert Luswata, the President of the Uganda Medical Association, welcomed the government’s initiative. “It is a good idea to regulate the intake into medical schools so that it aligns with the numbers planned for by the Ministry of Health,” Luswata noted.

Despite the supportive stance from some quarters, several MPs oppose the regulation, arguing that Uganda still needs more doctors to serve its growing population.

“For me, it’s not just about regulating! Yes, regulating is good, but we must acknowledge that we need more doctors compared to our population. As long as we’re still lacking in doctors, this regulation is null and void,” said Francis Mwijukye, MP for Buhweju County.

The government currently faces a 58% deficit of health workers in its facilities, according to a survey conducted by the Medical Association in January this year.

Uganda’s doctor-patient and nurse-patient ratios stand at approximately 1:25,000 and 1:11,000, respectively — far below the recommended doctor-patient ratio of 1:1,000.

However, Dr Luswata emphasised the importance of maintaining quality and standards among health workers produced in the country.

"There are issues we can’t compromise on to ensure the quality and standards of health workers that we need as a country,” he stated.

Luswata also urged the Ministry of Education, responsible for training, and the Ministry of Health, responsible for internship deployment, to ensure joint planning to avoid further conflicts between interns and the government.