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By Julius Mugaga/ KMA Updates.
Mulago, Kampala-Uganda: Most Health Departments are surrounded with rings corruption therefore the Health Monitoring Unit should not solely focus on Mulago Hospital.
(C) Dr. Oledo Samuel Odongo, President of Uganda Medical Association (U.M.A), (L) Dr. Nabushawo Faith, Deputy Secretary General of Uganda Medical Association, (R) Dr. Mirembe Joel, U.M.A Secretary Buganda Branch at a press conference at Mulago-Kampala. Photo by Julius Mugaga.
Following the arrest of Mulago National Referral Hospital Executive Director, Dr. Byarugaba Baterana Boneventure on allegations of corruption that could have seen 28.8UGX Billion meant for running health affairs at Mulago disappear.
Baterana was arrested at the start of this week along with other five senior officials from Mulago hospital by the State House Unit instituted by President Museveni to investigate corruption in the Health Sector.
Dr. Byarugaba Baterana Boneventure, Mulago National Referral Hospital Executive Director/Courtesy Photo.
The Unit Executive Director Dr. Warren Namara, last week said investigations have been running since last year.
To Namara, Dr. Byarugaba Baterana’s crisis came from the Shs28.8 Billion allegedly spent by the National Referral Hospital but unaccounted for.
Namara noted that it was by complaints from some members of the public in April last year that they started investigations into the procurement processes, drugs, human resource management and finances at the Hospital leading to a number of queries that led to Byarugaba’s arrest.
“A total of 65 staff both serving and retired were interviewed and statements recorded and so far it has been established that a total of Shs974 Million is unaccounted for the period of two years of July 2019 to 2021. The accounting officer (Baterana) failed to notify the Accountant General about missing vouchers amounting to shs5.27 billion” Dr. Namara informed in a statement.
This has today prompted Doctors under their umbrella, Uganda Medical Association (U.M.A) in a press conference held at Mulago Guest House in Kampala City to point different areas they think should also be critically investigated as they contain a lot of weavils worth sorted, they say.
Dr. Oledo Samuel Odongo, President of Uganda Medical Association (U.M.A) addressing journalists at Mulago, Kampala-Uganda. Photo by Julius Mugaga.
Oledo Samuel Odongo, the President of the Association expressed with concern that the Health Monitoring Unit should expedite investigations in the USD 50Million allocated for the harmonizing and standardizing Health services at Mulago Hospital five years back but up to today the situation remains unchanged.
He says, patients still carry water from the sixth floor to the ground floor.
He revealed that Mulago receives over UGX62Billion annually for the day today running of the operations at the facility but says it is so absurd that utilities are wanting and necessities are not harmonized, “what is this money meant for”, he asks.
(L) Dr. Nabushawo Faith, Deputy Secretary General of Uganda Medical Association, (R) Dr. Oledo Samuel Odongo, President of Uganda Medical Association (U.M.A) at a press conference, Mulago- Kampala. Photo by Julius Mugaga.
He adds that Mulago receives enough medicine from National Medical Stores worth UGX500Billion but the country is suffering the scarcity and at the end of the day the medicine expire and is burnt yet there are many Ugandans are suffering out there.
Imaging services are still paid for by the patients yet they are supposed to be accessed freely and other essential services, Gloves are bought by patients which inserts a burden on them and doctors.
Oledo points that there other area worth investigation is the procurement department which he says its system is vague and ambiguous. He says their reports are wanting regarding equipment procured.
In the same media engagement, Doctors petitioned government to restructure the super specialization of doctors as it was declared. Oledo says they are tired of seeing Doctors remain stagnant in one position for years yet are highly qualified for special duties. He noted that over 100 doctors were sent to for special studies in India and USA but to date, they are not absorbed into the positions trained in.
Dr. Mirembe Joel, Uganda Medical Association Secretary Buganda Branch addressing journalists at Mulago-Kampala. Photo by Julius Mugaga.
For Dr. Mirembe Joel, the Uganda Medical Association, Buganda Branch showed discontent with the Health Service Commission for failing to recruit health staff leaving over 3000 spaces unoccupied yet they were applied for.
This could because the bribe seeking embedded in the commission hence failure to fill these spaces. This commission should be investigated with immediate effect.
He clung to the Health Monitoring Unit to investigate the entire ministry of Health if the services will be effective to Uganda’s and Health professionals welfare improved.