THE Ministry of Public Service (MPS) has denied claims that young doctors at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) are working under casual contracts.
This follows allegations made by local environmental activist Lawrence Makili that young doctors at the hospital are not employed under the Public Service, but work under casual agreements.
When making the allegations, Mr Makili argued that such employment conditions are unfair, given the critical nature of the medical profession, which involves handling human lives and public health.
“No responsible authority should treat such a profession this way. Doctors should be given priority and fair compensation. The Ministry of Health [and Medical Services] has treated them very unfairly,” he said.
Mr Makili thereby urged the Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dr Paul Bosawa, a medical professional himself, to address the issue urgently.
However, the MPS Permanent Secretary Luke Cheka refuted the claim, stating that he is unaware of any doctor working under a casual contract.
Mr Cheka clarified that doctors and nurses are employed under a structured scheme of service, which outlines their terms and conditions of employment.
He further explained that once the Ministry of Health and Medical Services submits the names of doctors and nurses to the Public Service Commission (PSC), the commission will review and endorse them.
“After PSC endorsement, the doctors and nurses are absorbed into the Public Service system, where they are paid according to their scheme of service,” Mr Cheka said.
