The Health Ministry has issued a rebuttal to a story carried by NBS TV which stated that over UGX 272 million meant to service and facilitate ambulances has never been received by the facility.
NBS TV was quoting MPs at a visit to the Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.
However, in a response to the story on Wednesday evening, the Health Ministry says;
The quote from the COVID-19 Parliamentary committee visit at Mbale hospital on the amount of money allocated per ambulance daily was based on the response that the MOH made on “what it takes to run one ambulance in Kampala and whether this can be replicated across the country”
Kampala Metropolitan Area and Masaka Health Region are serving as pilot areas for the Ministry of Health Emergency Medical Services Strategy which sets forth the establishment of the National Ambulance service that is regionally coordinated.
From the cost of offering an ambulance service in Kampala Metropolitan Area at the peak of the current Wave, one ambulance uses approximately UGX 980,000 daily.
This costs includes:
• Fuel (80 liters)
• Risk allowances for two medical personnel
• Decontamination of the vehicle
Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs)
• Oxygen cylinders
• Essential medicines
• Vehicle service, repair and maintenance
On average, each ambulance transports 5 patients giving an average cost of UGX 196,000 per patient. For boat ambulances, the running costs are estimated at UGX 1,405,000 per patient route.
The MOH would like to categorically state that that no funds were appropriated for the operation and maintenance of ambulances by Regional Referral Hospitals last year. The fuel used to run ambulances was on the central MOH budget.
Mbale Regional Referral Hospital coordinates ambulances in the 17 local governments in the region (16 districts & 1 City). A total of 7 ambulances were allocated to the region and placed in different districts in May/June 2021.
The 8th ambulance for Budaka HCIV (Budaka district) has just been allocated from those at the center. Due to the overwhelming number of cases in the second wave in Kampala Metropolitan Area, the handover of the ambulance was postponed until the situation is under control.
We are observing the COVID-19 pandemic curve in Kampala and when it flattens, the Budaka district ambulance will be handed over.