The Uganda Medical Association has protested a letter from the President, requesting the Ministry of Public Service to establish new regulations allowing for the summary dismissal of doctors in private practice who are also employed in government hospitals.
This comes after a presidential order to fire orthopedic surgeon Dr. Godfrey Pariyo for failing to report for job at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital even though he was paid on a regular basis.
As a result of the action, the President ordered Dr. Pariyo to be fired and demanded that the Ministry of Public Service establish guidelines for firing all private practice physicians who also hold government jobs.
The Medical Association is worried, nevertheless, that this would seriously impair the delivery of healthcare services.
