The Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has revealed that Over 35 districts in Uganda don’t have government hospitals.
She also said that the estimated cost per hospital for construction, human resources medicine and medical equipment is Shs31.3 billion.
She said all this while presenting a report on the state of health service delivery in Uganda before parliament.
Dr Aceng stated that apparently there is a gap of 219 clinical specialists and 550 support cadres at the mentioned levels that urgently need to be fixed for service delivery.
Dr Aceng told parliament that a total of 39 districts don not have government hospitals which is a big threat and challenge for the people in those areas to access health services.
The affected 39 districts which do not have any hospitals at all are Alebtong, Amuria, Amuru, Bukedea, Bukomansimbi, Bulambuli, Buvuma, Buyende, Dokolo, Gomba, lsingiro, Kalangala, Kaliro, Kamwenge, Kibuku, Koboko, Kole, Kotido, Kween, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Luuka, Lamwo, Lwengo, Manafwa, Mitoma, Nakapiripirit, Namutumba, Namayingo, Ntoroko, Otuke, Pader, Rubirizi, Serere, Sironko, Kibale, Kakumiro, Rubanda and Omoro.
“The population of most of these districts does not meet the recommended catchment population for a general hospital except lsingiro, Amuria and Serere,” she noted
Apparently, Uganda has six national referral hospitals including Kawempe, Kiruddu, Naguru, Upper Mulago and Butabika specializing in different aspects.
She added that once funds are availed, the districts which are not in good condition will be given priority.
She further noted that whereas plans are underway to review structural constrains affecting lower health facilities and regional referral hospitals, government needs to enhance salaries of medical personal in order to attract and retain them.
She further called for the enhanced health funding saying that currently the money allocated for the purchase of medicine and the related supplies are not rimming with the increasing population.
She added that the total number of qualified medical personal has drastically increased from 90,412 to 101350
She further stated that some of those districts need special attention because of their climatic and geographical condition.