The government’s proposal to recruit at least 200 medical personnel from Cuba to work in public hospitals in rural areas has drawn criticism from Uganda Medical Association.
Dr. Obuku Ekwaro, the President Uganda Medical Association-UMA, says the prevailing conditions in the country don’t warrant the importation of Cuban medical specialists and consultants.
According to Dr. Ekwaro, there are more than 1,500 specialist doctors registered under Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council-UMDPC but they aren’t in the hospitals because of the reasons that triggered last year’s strike by doctors.
Obuku noted that the comparative cost of importing Cuban doctors is likely to outweigh the benefits, saying government will dig into the national coffers to provide housing, transport, salaries and security for the specialists.
UMA demands that the 200 slots be advertised so that Ugandan Doctors with similar skills are given priority.
