Africa-Press – Uganda. This shortage, combined with frequent drug stockouts due to delayed deliveries from the National Medical Stores, has forced the district to refer patients to hospitals in Hoima and Masindi.
Health officials and local leaders in Buliisa District have raised concerns over critical staffing and supply issues at Buliisa Hospital.
The facility, which requires ten specialized doctors, currently operates with only four, leaving many patients without timely care.
This shortage, combined with frequent drug stockouts due to delayed deliveries from the National Medical Stores, has forced the district to refer patients to hospitals in Hoima and Masindi.
Buliisa Hospital, accredited by the Ministry of Health in 2014 and constructed with support from Tullow Oil Uganda, was commissioned by the president in 2015.
The hospital’s patient numbers have surged since the discovery of oil and gas in the district, intensifying the demand for medical services.
Buliisa County MP Alan Atugonza highlighted the dire situation, stating, “Imagine the entire Buliisa, whose population has increased due to oil activities, has only four specialized doctors out of the required ten. These doctors are overwhelmed, and many patients leave without being treated.”
The staffing shortage has also led to an increase in patient referrals to facilities in Hoima and Masindi, over 120 kilometers away.
Buliisa District Chairman Fred Lukumu noted the tragic outcomes, especially for expectant mothers.
“There’s no ambulance, so many patients, including mothers in labor, hire private vehicles. Unfortunately, some don’t make it to the hospital due to excessive bleeding,” he said.
Samuel Magambo, Buliisa’s Assistant Chief Administrative Officer in charge of health, has called on the government to prioritize staff recruitment in Buliisa to close the staffing gap.
“We urge the government to take affirmative action. We need critical staff to provide better services for our people,” he emphasized.
In addition to staffing challenges, Buliisa Hospital also faces prolonged delays in receiving medical supplies. MP Atugonza noted that the hospital can go for up to four months without essential medicines.
“This is the only facility in Uganda that’s called a hospital by name, but it operates more like a health center. Drug stockouts are frequent, with some periods extending to six months without supplies from National Medical Stores,” he said.
Local leaders and health officials are urging swift government intervention to ensure that Buliisa Hospital receives adequate staffing and reliable medical supplies to meet the growing healthcare demands of the district’s population.
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