LOP Winfred Kiiza Castigates Govt for Ignoring Doctors’ Demands

The Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Winfred Kiiza has warned government to stop forcing striking medical doctors to resume work before dealing with their demands so as to avoid more death of innocent patients.

Addressing the media at Parliament on Monday, the opposition boss said that it would be wise for government to order medical workers back to work after procuring all the medical supplies in health facilities as they are demanding.

Kiiza advised President Museveni to stop bragging about the completed multi million infrastructure projects when the people meant to benefit from these projects are dying due to lack of drugs in hospitals and poor remuneration of medical workers.

She expressed worry over Ugandans dying without government responding to the cause of their death.

“NRM cadres have now been given money to go out and consult on age limit but funds to take care of people can’t be found. That is why we are wondering whether President Museveni is happy seeing Ugandans die as he continues canvassing for votes for another term,” Kiiza said.

“It would be good that he focuses all his priorities to people, provide them with medicine and all the equipment needed; what the doctors are demanding is achievable,” she added.

Kiiza noted that government allocated Shs 1.8 trillion in 2017/18 financial year to improving the health sector, questioning why then medical workers keep on complaining of inadequate medical supplies.

She demanded government to explain whether the donors have fulfilled their donation to the national health budget which might have caused the budget shortage leading to inadequate service delivery.

“It is painfully disturbing that now close to two weeks, the doctors’ plight has not been attended to; Uganda has left the health sector to donors and has kept us wondering what the priorities of President Museveni and the NRM are.”

Doctors are now in the second week of industrial action demanding for pay raise, medical supplies and better working conditions. Days after they declared the strike, government ordered them to resume work saying the strike was illegal.