By Aggrey Baba
The medical support staff say they are tired of being underpaid and ignored, yet they also studied sciences and play a vital role in saving lives.
Made up of anaesthetic officers, laboratory technicians, medical coders, therapists and other allied health workers, the group says they work in high-pressure situations but are still paid as if they are in non-science jobs.
They handle life-and-death decisions in theatres, run hospital laboratories, manage drug supplies, and keep medical records, yet remain among the lowest-paid in the health sector.
Their anger has grown after the government recently increased salaries for all scientists in public service, including secondary school science teachers, lecturers, and medical practitioners but left out medical support staff. Many say this is unfair because they also studied science courses and their work is just as important to patient care.
The situation became worse when the Ministry of Public Service changed the health sector structure, moving many of these workers to a lower U5 medical scale and abolishing senior positions. This not only cut pay for some but also removed chances for promotion. Experienced diploma holders who had worked for decades found themselves on the same level as new recruits.
Professional associations warn that without better pay and career growth, many experienced staff may leave for private hospitals or jobs abroad, putting the health system at risk.
The Equal Opportunities Commission has ruled that the current pay structure is discriminatory and told the health and public service ministries to correct it.
However, the workers say the ruling will only matter if it leads to a real change in their salaries and opportunities.
The group say ignoring their demands could harm health services, saying they are scientists too, and they want to be paid and treated as such. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
