Ministry of Health tasked to address medicine shortages in hospitals

The Ministry of Health has been urged to collaborate with District Health Officers (DHOs) to ensure the timely delivery of medicines to health facilities across the country.

This directive was issued by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, 7 August 2024.

The call to action followed a matter of national concern raised by Hon. Sarah Najjuma, the Woman Representative for Nakaseke District, who highlighted a severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies in hospitals.

Najjuma revealed that Nakaseke General Hospital was unable to provide proper treatment for 15 individuals involved in a motor vehicle accident last Sunday due to a lack of necessary medicines.

“Nakaseke hospital is in a crisis because we have no medicine. We last received medicine on 13 March [2024]. Some people are diabetic and have been off medication for over three months,” she stated.

She criticized the National Medical Stores (NMS) for failing to deliver essential medicines and supplies, noting that recent deliveries included only items like liquid soap, jik, and glucose, but no medicines. Najjuma further suggested that if the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) is causing delays in medicine deliveries, it should be reconsidered or removed from the system.

State Minister for Health in charge of General Duties, Hon. Anifa Kawooya, committed to investigating the situation and providing a report to the House. “On such issues, it would be pertinent for colleagues to bring them to our attention so that we can follow up with those concerned in our hospitals to establish what is going on,” Kawooya responded.

Deputy Speaker Tayebwa also directed the Committee on Health to work closely with the health minister to address the issue.