Luwero district bans medical interns from attending to patients without supervisors

Luwero District has implemented a ban on intern doctors from independently handling and administering treatment to patients at health centers without the supervision of experienced staff.

Each year, Luwero District hosts over 200 medical students from various institutions for training at health centers IIIs, IVs, and Luwero Hospital. This year’s program commenced on January 2, accommodating both medical students and other interns within the local government.

Concerns have arisen over the absence of several health workers, leaving patients attended to by inexperienced trainees. A notice, dated December 27, 2023, issued by Bernard Okello, Luwero District Human Resource Officer acting on behalf of the Chief Administrative Officer, deems this practice unacceptable.

Okello reveals that the administration received complaints about trainees either extorting money from patients or being exploited by senior health workers for such purposes. Okello sternly warns that any trainee found handling patients without supervision, engaging in extortion, or pilfering government drugs will be immediately expelled from the program and handed over to the police to face criminal charges.

He encourages residents to report any misconduct by trainees to the District Health Officer for prompt action. Dr. Innocent Nkonwa, Luwero District Health Officer, emphasizes the necessity for trainees to adhere to medical ethics, failure to which may result in expulsion.

“We shall not tolerate any student who is non-compliant with the ethics because this may result in serious cases, for example, if they misdiagnose the patient. We consistently remind them about the ethics, and they should adhere to them as medical students,” warns Nkonwa.

The notice was distributed to the LC V Chairperson, Resident District Commissioner, and heads of departments. In 2021, Luwero District Health Department introduced fingerprint time and attendance devices in government health centers to combat rampant absenteeism. Despite threats to suspend salaries for health workers absent for over 30 days without notification, absenteeism continues in health centers, leaving trainees to handle responsibilities as health workers pursue additional jobs.