The government is set to upgrade more than 100 Health Centre IVs into community hospitals and improve infrastructure at 20 general hospitals across the country in a move aimed at easing congestion at regional referral hospitals and improving access to healthcare services
The Minister of State for Health in charge of General Duties, Anifa Bangirana Kawooya, announced the plan during the swearing-in and inauguration of the new board of Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, where she also inspected the facility
Kawooya said the government had earmarked funds in the current financial year to implement the upgrades, which are expected to strengthen service delivery at lower-level health facilities and reduce the number of patients seeking treatment at regional referral hospitals
“We shall work on 20 general hospitals and upgrade more than 100 Health Centre IVs into community hospitals in this financial year because we have the money,” Kawooya said
She explained that the decision was partly informed by the tendency of some patients to bypass Health Centre IVs in favour of facilities designated as hospitals, contributing to overcrowding at referral hospitals
Jinja Regional Referral Hospital is among the facilities grappling with high patient numbers. It serves a catchment population of more than five million people from Jinja City, the 11 districts of Busoga, and neighbouring areas of Buikwe, Buvuma and parts of Kayunga District
Limited ward space, including structures dating back to the colonial era, has further compounded congestion at the hospital, putting pressure on existing infrastructure and healthcare services
The proposed upgrades are expected to bring healthcare services closer to communities, enabling patients to access treatment at appropriately equipped facilities without necessarily travelling to regional referral hospitals
Kawooya pledges to lobby for new maternity ward
During her inspection, Kawooya also pledged to lobby for the construction of a new maternity ward after observing congestion in the existing facility
“We need a ward that meets the standards of a regional referral hospital,” Kawooya said, adding that she would raise the matter with her superiors at the Ministry of Health and the President
Minister warns health workers over misconduct
Kawooya also warned health workers against absenteeism and neglect of their official duties in favour of attending to patients at their private clinics and pharmacies
She expressed concern over complaints that some medical personnel refer patients to private pharmacies to purchase medicines, including drugs reportedly available in government hospital stores
“Although I have found that Jinja Hospital staff are organised and generally present for duty, some medical personnel sometimes misbehave,” she said
Kawooya said her inspection of the hospital’s stores revealed that some medicines were available in substantial quantities, raising questions about why patients were allegedly being directed to purchase them elsewhere
She consequently directed Jinja City authorities, health inspectors, the city security committee and the National Drug Authority (NDA) to identify and close unregistered and uncertified pharmacies operating around the hospital
“We have received several complaints about medics sending patients to their pharmacies to buy drugs, even those we have. I have been to the stores at Jinja Hospital and found drugs in plenty. I am directing the Mayor, city health inspectors, the city security committee and the National Drug Authority to close all unregistered and uncertified pharmacies around the hospital,” she said
The directive is intended to strengthen the regulation of pharmaceutical outlets around the facility and address concerns about the conduct of health workers and the handling of patients seeking treatment
Meanwhile, the hospital’s Senior Executive Consultant, Dr Alfred Yayi, appealed to Jinja City authorities to address infrastructure and traffic management challenges affecting access to the facility
Yayi identified inadequate street lighting along some roads leading to the hospital as a major concern, particularly for patients and their attendants seeking medical services at night
He said poor lighting along the affected routes creates difficulties for patients and other hospital users travelling to and from the facility after dark
“I implore the city leadership to help us install streetlights along some of the roads leading to the hospital because our clients suffer because of darkness at night,” Yayi said
He also called for the relocation of the boda boda stage near the hospital’s main gate, saying the motorcycles and their operators obstruct traffic flow and complicate access to the facility
Yayi urged city authorities to work with hospital management to improve the hospital’s surroundings and ensure that patients, ambulances and other vehicles can access the facility without unnecessary delays
The concerns highlight the need for coordinated efforts between the Ministry of Health, Jinja City authorities and hospital management to address pressure on healthcare services and infrastructure challenges affecting patients
The planned expansion of lower-level health facilities, alongside improvements at general hospitals, is expected to ease pressure on regional referral hospitals. However, the effectiveness of the measures will depend on timely implementation and the availability of adequate staffing, medicines and essential medical equipment at the upgraded facilities
