Parliament has directed that government provides 260 billion shillings as a matter of urgency for the enhancement of health workers. The money will be an addition to the budget appropriations of Ministry of Health.
Workers MP Sam Lyomoki, the chairperson Health Committee of Parliament, was happy that the entire house agreed to adopt the committee report saying it was time that government appreciated the health workers. Lyomoki says without the 260 billion shillings the health budget will be deferred until this proposal is addressed.
The proposal was overwhelmingly supported by Parliament amidst protest from the Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi who said government has no money to implement the committee proposal.
The ministry had continually highlighted the inadequate and ill-motivated human resource as a key binding constraint to the health sector but this has never been addressed. Health workers have on several occasions downed their tools over poor remuneration.
In 2010, the Health Service Commission recommended a modest salary increment ranging from 356,565 shillings per month for the lowest paid health worker like the nursing assistants to 6.3 million shillings per month for the highest paid health worker at the level of a senior consultant be provided.
Regional comparison indicated that a medical officer in Uganda gets $354, while in Kenya they get $959, Tanzania $550, Rwanda $645 and South Africa $2,150. A nurse or midwife in Uganda gets $107, in Kenya $335, Rwanda $419 and South Africa$1,200.
The Commission also demanded that motivating schemes, allowances and incentives be given to health workers but government has not adhered to this recommendations.
In May while appearing before the committee Christine Ondoa, the Minister for Health, noted that their main priority would be to have salaries of every health worker increased but lack of funds had constrained their efforts. She says they have tried to approach the Ministry of Finance but their hands are tied owing to the limited resources. She also noted that no funds had been earmarked for recruitment of permanent staff in the 2012/2013 budget.
