By Steven Enatu
(Additional reporting by Markson Omagor)
NATIONAL
The Allied Health Professionals have today, 16th May, 2022 laid down their tools in an industrial action over salary disparity in the new salary structure for Health Workers.
Confirming the industrial action, Alex Kachwano, the Secretary Allied Health Professionals Associations told this website in a telephone interview that the Industrial action has indeed taken off.
“Yes, we have laid down our tools effective today until government responds to our concerns appropriately,” Kachwano said.
He also added that, the Association is willing to call off the strike any time the government responds to their concerns.
“We can even go back to work this week if government responds,” he added.
The industrial action means that the dentistry, pharmacy, clinical medicine, medical laboratory technology, orthopaedic technology, physiotherapy, public health and radiography services shall be off.
The Industrial action follows a warning letter earlier sent to the office of the Ministry of Health, Public Service and finance dated 27th April, 2022.
“Reference is made to the Press release in the Monday New Vision, dated 20th April, 2022 stipulating approved enhanced salaries for Health workers 2022/23 and in addition, the previously circulating document dated 21st .February,2022(Ref. No. ARC 6/135/01) fully signed and on a Public Service Headed paper” part of the letter reads.
The leadership of the AHPs Associations unanimously agreed to Act in unison as they claimed that the proposed structure excessively portrays gross enhancement discrepancies for the FY 2022/2023 and it is to a bigger extent contrary to actual figures agreed upon in the collective bargaining agreement of 2017/18 between Uganda government and Health-workers’ Unions.
“Therefore, having exhausted all possible dispute settlement options as provided for in the public service standing orders G–b and in accordance with our civil and constitutional right to freedom of expression, we officially put government on notice that with effect from 16th May, 2022; all AHPs shall collectively withdraw their Labor services until our demands are fully settled as already indicated in the previous CBA of 2017/2018” the letter reads.
The Allied health professionals are Persons registered under section 24 of the Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC) register.
The professionals are regulated by AHPC, a statutory body established by the Allied Health Professionals’ ACT Cap 268 to regulate, supervise, and control the training, practice, and other related matters of the said professionals in Uganda.
According to the letter signed by both Patrick Dennis Alibu Chairperson, Allied Health Professionals Associations and Alex Kachwano Secretary Allied Health Professionals Associations, (AHPs) have closely but patiently been following the trends of events in the health sector without joining or scheduling an industrial action.
“Despite being a backbone of the health sector for instance; all HC IIIs, OPDs at different levels, Public Health Services, Laboratory among other diagnostics and Imaging services; and PNFP Community based facilities and serving mostly, over83% rural communities of the Country’s total population. We had hoped that the government would always inclusively and collectively engage all the health/medical cadres and resolve all health sector related issues through meaningful and effective dialogue” The letter reads in parts.
The leadership of AHP said numerous industrial actions in Uganda, especially the health sector are clear indications that Uganda is not doing enough to equitably support the medical/health workers.
This they say is undermining the in an effort to improve health care services in line with Abuja and Ouagadougou Declarations on health financing, primary health care and multi-professional approach, achieve UHC, Vision 2040, NDP III and the global goals (SDGs 2030) and East African Community Integration agenda.
