The government is considering a proposal to bar public health workers from practising in privately owned health facilities if they benefit from a proposed tax exemption on their salaries, Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi has said.
Dr Baryomunsi said the proposal is intended to ensure that health workers who receive improved remuneration from government dedicate their time to serving patients in public health facilities.
He made the remarks while addressing participants at the fourth Kigezi Joint Health Review Mission (JRM) hosted by Rubanda District.
The three-day annual meeting, convened by Kabale Regional Referral Hospital on behalf of the Ministry of Health, assesses healthcare service delivery, ranks district performance and identifies solutions to health challenges affecting communities.
Dr Baryomunsi said in August he informed Parliament about President Museveni’s proposal to exempt medical workers from Pay As You Earn (PAYE), as part of efforts to improve the welfare of health workers in public facilities.
However, he said the proposed tax relief would come with increased accountability, particularly for health workers whose salaries have recently been increased alongside those of other scientists.
The minister singled out public health workers who also work in privately owned clinics, laboratories and pharmacies, saying they would have to choose between government employment and private practice.
“If you are a consultant, you will be allowed to treat patients from the private wing and share half of the money paid by that patient,” he said, citing Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, which has a private wing.
Under the proposed arrangement, he said, health workers would be allowed to work in private wings of government hospitals and benefit from the tax exemption, provided they share 50 per cent of the income generated from each patient.
Dr Baryomunsi said the policy is primarily aimed at addressing absenteeism and ensuring that health workers devote adequate time to patients seeking services in public facilities.
CUE IN BARYOMUNSI……ON ABSENTEEISM…..RR/ENG//
The minister said Cabinet had initially approved a six-month period for the initiative starting August 18, but he would finalise the comprehensive proposal and submit it to Cabinet and later Parliament for approval before the end of October.
He said the proposed tax waiver would enable medical workers to take home their full salaries without deductions, removing what he described as excuses for poor performance.
CUE IN BARYOMUNSI….ON TAXES….RR/ENG//
The proposal has received support from health officials in the Kigezi sub-region.
Rubanda District Secretary for Health and Education Obed Mutatiina Kitabutuka said the policy would help reduce absenteeism in public health facilities.
CUE IN KITABUTUKA….ON MEDICAL WORKERS….ENG//
Rubanda District Health Officer Dr David Mporampora also backed the proposal, saying the restriction on double employment for public health workers was long overdue.
He said health workers employed in both government and private facilities often have divided attention, which can affect the quality of services delivered to patients.
CUE IN DR MPORAMPORA….ON MEDICAL WORKERS….ENG//
However, Kabale District Health Officer Dr Gilbert Mateeka expressed reservations about requiring highly qualified medical practitioners to work exclusively in government facilities.
While welcoming the proposed salary tax waiver and the call for greater accountability among health workers, Dr Mateeka said the policy could create challenges because of the limited number of highly specialised practitioners and the high demand for their services.
CUE IN DR MATEEKA….ON MEDICAL WORKERS….ENG//
