- Medical officers and the specialized doctors should rethink their action as they negotiate with the government .
Image: Robert Ssegawa
Government has asked striking doctors to return to work as they engage in negotiation to see how their grievances can be addressed.Senior house officers (SHOs) earlier this month started their sit-down strike protesting delayed payment of their allowances.
On the other hand, specialized doctors who include; gynecologists, surgeons, and pediatricians announced a strike Wednesday night over salary increment to join medical interns who are also on strike.
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre, the Minister for Public Service, Wilson Muruuli Mukasa said the medical officers and the specialized doctors should rethink their action as they negotiate with the government .
Muruuli Mukasa said striking is not necessary at this time and in the form it has been done since they have already got over 90% salary enhancement .
"The industrial action will make the striking medical officers funny since their pay is fair compared to the general workforce in the country, with a large section of workers having up to 18% salary increment" he said.
The government, he said , is committed to fulfilling the promise of increasing the salaries of these medical workers but noted it will only come in phases as the government is still addressing other equally important issues.
He noted that it's wrong for the medical officers in government health facilities to receive slightly better salaries than their counterparts in the private sector and others in the region.
He said in the view of the performance of the economy, it is only fair that the medical doctors be fair since the economy is only recovering from the COVID-19 shocks and other geopolitical happenings that have affected the economy negatively.
The minister said the government is still committed to having a good pay for all its workers, noting that for now, the medical doctors should halt their strike as negotiations continue.