The Ministry of Health has announced that it has obtained financial clearance to pay thousands of health professionals currently undertaking their mandatory service across the country.

The move is expected to clear outstanding salary and allowance backlogs, while introducing a new system that will ensure health workers receive their payments monthly.

In a statement issued on March 13 and signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Tony Goodman, the ministry said the approval from the Ministry of Finance covers 14,279 rotation nurses and midwives, as well as 637 medical and dental house officers.

“The Ministry of Health has secured financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance for the payment of allowances and salaries for 14,279 rotation nurses and midwives, as well as 637 medical and dental house officers,” the statement said.

According to the ministry, the decision follows several engagements between the health ministry and the finance ministry aimed at ensuring newly trained health professionals receive the financial support they need while undergoing mandatory service and professional training.

The financial clearance for nurses covers several categories of professionals, including Registered General Nurses, Registered Midwives, Registered Mental Health Nurses, Registered Community Health Nurses, and Registered Public Health Nurses.

These nurses began their rotations in 2025 and are expected to complete them in 2026.

The ministry also confirmed that 637 medical and dental house officers have been granted financial clearance for their salaries.

These officers graduated from both public and private institutions, successfully passed examinations conducted by the Medical and Dental Council, and were officially inducted into service on November 12, 2025.

“These approvals will clear all payment backlog from the previous years and set the stage for the Ministry’s new policy of ensuring monthly payment of allowances for mandatory service of all health professional cadres,” it stated.

The statement further explained that the new arrangement will replace the previous system, where allowances accumulated and were paid only at the end of the service period, a practice that often affected nurses, pharmacists, and other allied health professionals.

NA/AE

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