The Ministry of Health has confirmed the payment of two months’ salary arrears to newly recruited nurses, while outlining plans to recruit up to 16,000 health workers to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
In a statement issued on April 28, the Ministry said the payments form part of efforts to address concerns raised by newly engaged nurses across the country.
It assured that additional payments covering three months—from May to July 2026—will be made as previously announced.
The Ministry expressed appreciation to nurses and other stakeholders for their patience and cooperation, stressing the government’s commitment to building a resilient and responsive health workforce.
It further advised individuals facing challenges or seeking clarification on their payments to contact the Human Resource for Health Development Directorate for support.
On recruitment, the Ministry disclosed that it is working to engage about 16,000 health professionals this year. It noted that financial clearance has already been secured for approximately 8,000 positions, with efforts ongoing to obtain approval for the remaining slots.
The Ministry emphasised that recruitment will only proceed with the necessary financial backing, adding that the approved clearances have been distributed across various health categories to ensure a structured and phased absorption into the system.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, the Ministry indicated that the official recruitment portal remains the sole authorised platform for all recruitment processes.
It acknowledged that the large volume of applications has placed pressure on the system, resulting in access challenges for some applicants. However, it described the concerns as understandable and assured that steps are being taken to secure additional clearances to accommodate more qualified health professionals.
The update comes as the government intensifies efforts to address staffing gaps in the health sector and improve access to quality healthcare delivery nationwide.
