The Ministry of Health has taken steps to decentralize medical board services, with the aim of enhancing the efficiency of retirement processing for public servants. In an August 8 letter addressed to all town clerks, cities, and municipalities, Dr. Henry Mwebesa, the Director General of Health Services, revealed this development.
According to Dr. Mwebesa, the Ministry of Health is required to establish the Uganda Medical Board under the Public Service Standing Orders (Section M-c). The primary responsibilities of this board include overseeing referrals of patients seeking medical treatment abroad and making recommendations for the retirement of public servants on medical grounds.
Dr. Mwebesa explained that, in line with a resolution by senior management at the Ministry of Health, the responsibility for medical retirements of public servants on medical grounds has been delegated to regional medical boards located at regional referral hospitals (RRHs). This move is designed to streamline the processing of requests and reduce costs for applicants, as they will no longer need to travel to Kampala for examination by the Uganda Medical Board.
Going forward, all applications for early retirement on medical grounds should be directed to the Regional Medical Boards situated at their respective regional referral hospitals.
Upon receiving approval for retirement from the appointing authority based on the Medical Board’s recommendation, the individual is entitled to pension and compensation. Compensation is determined according to the degree of incapacity, as outlined in the Workers Compensation Act.
The Workers Compensation Act, Section L-e, specifies that compensation for an officer who becomes invalid due to an injury or disease incurred while performing official duties shall be assessed based on the advice of a Medical Board, as per Section M – c of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders, 2021.
Section M – c outlines that a responsible officer may request a public officer to appear before a medical board to determine their physical capability to perform their job or any proposed transfer. Such requests are made when questions arise regarding the officer’s ability to continue rendering efficient public service due to medical reasons. This provision applies to public officers who are permanently disabled as a direct result of injuries specifically related to their duty or who contract diseases to which they are exposed by the nature of their duty.
