Motivation and Recruitment Crucial to Improving Uganda's Health Service Delivery, MPs Urge

Butaleja District Woman MP, Hon. Florence Nebanda, emphasized the need for better remuneration packages to retain medical specialists and prevent them from seeking opportunities abroad.

Uganda is facing growing challenges in its health sector, with motivation and recruitment of health workers identified as crucial factors in improving service delivery. During recent discussions, lawmakers pointed to brain drain and critical staffing shortages as major issues hindering the effective functioning of health facilities, especially in rural and remote areas.

Butaleja District Woman MP, Hon. Florence Nebanda, emphasized the need for better remuneration packages to retain medical specialists and prevent them from seeking opportunities abroad. "Whenever we have challenges here, we make referrals to Kenyan hospitals, but when you get there, you find most of our specialists there," Nebanda stated. She highlighted that regional referral hospitals are equipped to handle major medical procedures but lack the specialized personnel needed to operate these facilities.

Nebanda also pointed out that healthcare workers' salaries and working conditions are often inadequate, contributing to the brain drain of skilled professionals. She urged the Health Ministry to prioritize recruitment this financial year, following previous promises that were not met.

Human Resource Gaps in Karamoja and Other Regions

Concerns about staffing gaps in the Karamoja sub-region were raised by Obongi County MP, Hon. George Bhoka Didi. He pointed out the shortage of trained healthcare workers at Moroto Regional Referral Hospital, despite many youths from the region being qualified but not employed. "Many of them have qualified and are volunteering in Abim, Kotido, Kaabong, and Moroto Districts, without accessing the payroll," said Dr. Bhoka. He called on the Health Service Commission to address these issues and ensure that the local youth are recruited and deployed to serve their communities.

Staffing and Accommodation Challenges at Regional Hospitals

The Principal Hospital Administrator at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Michael Odur, revealed that Shs1.7 billion is needed to fill vacant specialist positions at the hospital. Additionally, Odur highlighted the shortage of staff accommodation, with less than 17% of the staff having housing provided. This lack of accommodation affects service delivery, as healthcare workers are often unable to remain on-site. Odur proposed that Shs4 billion be allocated to build a 16-unit storeyed staff house to alleviate this problem.

Similarly, Moroto Regional Referral Hospital Director, Dr. Stephen Pande, reported that the hospital is staffed at only 23% of its required capacity, with Shs2.051 billion needed to address the staffing gap and improve services.

Quality of Customer Care in Health Facilities

While addressing the challenges of limited resources, MPs also raised concerns about the quality of care in health facilities. Hon. Joseph Ruyonga, the Chairperson of the Health Committee, stressed the importance of improving customer care at hospitals. "If it means having a Continuing Medical Education (CME) every two weeks, let us do it. Our patients must experience good reception in these facilities," he said.

Hon. Elisa Rutahigwa (NRM, Rukungiri Municipality) echoed Ruyonga's concerns, highlighting the issue of patients being received by cleaners or security officers instead of trained personnel, leading to poor customer care. She called for improved training and professionalism among hospital staff to ensure that patients receive proper care and treatment from the moment they enter health facilities.

Addressing Health Sector Gaps with Holistic Solutions

Lawmakers and hospital directors emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to ensure that health service delivery is not only about increasing staff numbers but also about enhancing the quality of care provided. The focus on staff accommodation, better recruitment strategies, and customer care is a vital part of ensuring that Uganda’s healthcare system is effective, efficient, and able to meet the needs of the population, especially in underserved regions.

As the discussions continue, stakeholders are hopeful that the Health Ministry will take actionable steps to address these critical challenges and improve Uganda’s healthcare services across the country.