Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi, has ordered a probe into service delivery at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, following an impromptu midnight visit to the facility on Saturday night.
Min. Baryomunsi during the visit expressed shock at the devastating conditions inside the facility, after he witnessed severe ward congestion, low medical staffing levels during night shifts, and an acute shortage of essential medicines and basic supplies.
“There are patients who are charged money, like one patient told me she was asked to take an x ray and asked UGX 250,000, she couldn’t raise the money and for six days the X ray hasn’t been done” he said.
He added, “When I speak to authorities they say an X ray in Mbarara Hospital is free”.
During his unannounced inspection, Dr. Baryomunsi noted that the devastating conditions inside the facility have forced patients to endure substandard care.
Baryomunsi found two medical interns attending to the emergency patients, in the wards he visited including the female medical wards and maternity, patients decried congestion in the ward, extortion by the hospital workers, and poor hygiene, which is threatening their health
Following the findings, Dr Baryomunsi ordered an investigation to hold the hospital administrators accountable and address the long-standing management crises at the regional referral hub.
The acting hospital director, Dr. Deust-Wesje, acknowledged some of the issues at the facility, but he largely blamed them to overcrowding of patients
