Health worker export to Trinidad & Tobago: Civil Society appeal to UN

In its submission, the Attorney General said the application interferes with the doctrine of separation of powers, adding that the balance of convenience rests with the government as the case inhibits bilateral relations between two sovereign states and that the injunction would infringe on the right to work as expressly provided for in the 1995 Constitution.

Moses Mulumba, the executive director for the Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) says the arguments fronted by the government if considered by the judge handling the matter, will have adverse effects on health, and human rights of Ugandans.

“The exportation of health workers backed up by government is indeed a sad affair. It is not just a violation of fundamental human rights and failure on the part of government on its obligations but also an indication of the lack of appreciation of the current basic needs of Ugandans.”

“In the human rights framework, having health professionals in a public health facility is a core and minimum requirement which the government must provide without making reference to limited resources. As things stand now, Uganda is working almost under 50% of the required health professionals,” he told The Independent in an email.

Mulumba says the civil society’s argument is not to bar individual health professionals to go for greener pastures but rather the unfortunate participation of government in the recruitment of health professionals.

“This practice is happening in a vacuum of a proper legal framework for regulating exportation of health professionals which also puts the health professionals involved in a very awkward situation. With no safe guards they are at the mercy of countries that are receiving them.”

“It would be critical for the government to undertake an audit into the potential repercussions of this exportation not just to the health system but also to the average Ugandan,” he said.

While speaking to journalists on Feb.5 on the same issue, Dennis Odwe, the executive director of the Action Group for Health Rights and HIV/AIDS (AGHA) noted that it is a sign of a failed leadership when the government that is supposed to protect its people gives away the few health experts the country has to another country for the sake of strengthening ties.

Uganda’s health rights activists insist that the remittances generated by health workers exported overseas would fail to compensate for the economic costs associated with catastrophic illnesses and increased rates of death.

Uganda’s civil society working in the health sector are hoping that the mechanism of the special rapporteur will use this opportunity to highlight the grave human rights consequences that accrue out of this adhoc action of exporting health professionals.

“We urge you to intervene as the planned export is imminent. We also request you to consider making a country visit and to carry out a study on the impact of medical brain drain on national and global public health.”

“We finally request you to report the same to the Human Rights Council and General Assembly,” the letter says.