Ugandans will soon have three alternative semi-autonomous hospitals, thanks to the approval by cabinet to allow Kiruddu, Kawempe and Naguru to do referrals.
This decision was reached out during a cabinet sitting on Monday this week. The minister for ICT Hon. Frank Tumwebaze told the media this morning that the health facilities, now referrals, will bridge the gap between lower level facilities and mulago specialized hospital, thus improving health service delivery within Kampala City.
The new referral facilities will lead to a strengthened professional medical training capacity for Makarere University College of Health Sciences. This will also provide additional training centres for medical interns.
The move is also expected to make the three referral hospitals have semi-autonomous status that enables them to expedite implementation of management decisions, carryout their own procurement and improve the quality of services while reporting directly to the Ministry of Health on technical and financial issues.
Also, this will enable facilities to raise alternative revenue such as non tax revenue in addition to being allocated funds for wage, non-wage and development obligations.
Since the opening of Kiruddu hospital in Makindye division, several patients have complained about the lack of medicine and enough attention from medical workers. The new move is expected to bring an end to such complaints.
These facilities were opened to give breathing space to Mulago national referral hospital which is under renovation.
