The Tanzanian government has declared that it won’t yield to pressure from the Medical Association of Tanzania (MAT) over the relocation of medical interns working in health stations across the country.

The deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Lucy Nkya told reporters in Dar es Salam on Tuesday that the interns will remain at their respective stations.

“I would like to make it clear that, the government would not give in to any of the medical interns’ demands supported by MAT which lacks the force of reason,” Dr Nkya maintained.

Earlier, MAT had issued a 72 hour ultimatum which expired on Monday, demanding that the government facilitate the relocation of medical interns to the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) which has been seriously handicapped in the wake of a strike by its staff.

The interns were dispatched to other hospitals in Dar es Salam after the strike over better pay.

Dr Nkya, who was flanked by the Ministry’s Permanent Principal Secretary, Blandina Nyoni said the government had learned of MAT’s demands through the media, pointing out that there was no official communication between them.

She explained that the government was forced to relocate the medical interns to other hospitals in Dar es Salam due to limited space at the MNH to accommodate all of them.

“There are more than 220 interns and the capacity at MNH is only 80 interns. We were compelled by circumstances to contact other hospitals with a view to accommodating them there” she remarked, claiming no intern had been expelled contrary to MAT claims.

According to her all the interns, who were sent to six hospitals within Dar es Salam, have already reported to their new work stations.

According to her, the hospitals with interns are MNH (134), Temeke (12), Amana (19), Mwananyamala (16), Lugalo Military Hospital (7) and Agha Khan Hospital (7).

The government has also defended its decision to transfer about 61 senior doctors to other regions saying that those parts of the country have to be covered by the government health program.

“The government has decided to upgrade all regional hospitals to referral hospitals and each referral requires a seasoned, senior doctor” she said.

Source African Press Agency

African News from NetNewsPublisher.com

How People Arrived Here:

medical association of tanzania, resignation Blandina Nyoni Tanzania Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, salary of medical doctors interns recruited on january 2012