The Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi has welcomed the government’s decision to restore monthly facilitation for medical interns, while urging authorities to consider increasing the allowance to reflect the rising cost of living.
Ssenyonyi said the decision by government to reinstate the allowance was an important step after months of uncertainty surrounding the welfare of medical interns.
“Finally, Government has acknowledged that all medical interns require facilitation, and is now going to reinstate the 1m allowance per month to each medical intern,” Ssenyonyi said.
The remarks came after Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi told Parliament that government had reversed the earlier decision to withdraw financial facilitation for medical interns.
Under the arrangement announced in Parliament, interns will receive a gross monthly allowance of about Shs1.27 million, translating to approximately Shs1 million after statutory deductions.
The government’s earlier position had triggered concern among medical interns and other stakeholders, with questions raised over how graduates would undertake mandatory internship without financial support.
Ssenyonyi, however, said restoring the allowance should not mark the end of discussions on the welfare of medical interns. He argued that the Shs1 million monthly payment should be reviewed upwards because its purchasing power has declined over the years.
“However, going forward, there ought to be a discussion on increasing the 1m, given the rising cost of living and inflation over the years,” he said.
The Leader of Opposition’s comments place renewed focus on the adequacy of the allowance at a time when healthcare workers face increasing living and professional costs.
Medical internship is a mandatory stage for graduates seeking full registration and licences to practise independently. Interns work in health facilities under supervision while gaining practical experience in patient care and other clinical duties.
The restoration of the allowance is therefore expected to provide financial relief to interns who depend on the monthly facilitation while undertaking the required training.
Ssenyonyi’s call for an increase also shifts the debate from whether interns should receive an allowance to whether the existing amount is sufficient.
The government will now face pressure to establish a sustainable financing framework for medical internships, including possible future reviews of the allowance in line with inflation and changes in the cost of living.