Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has urged both the government and the Parliament to expeditiously explore alternative funding solutions to secure vital projects for the ministry of health.
Addressing the media at Mulago hospital, the President of UMA Dr. Herbert Luswata noted that recently, parliamentary discussions have raised concerns about removal of 27 billion shillings allocated for ambulance maintenance, which could hinder their utilization.
Luswata adds that they are also apprehensive about the potential loss of funding for other critical healthcare projects, including, 26 billion shillings for ongoing health center construction, 26 billion shillings for additional ambulance procurement, 5 billion shillings for the Mbale Surgical Complex construction, and 59 billion shillings for the Masaka Regional Referral Hospital ICU construction.
Luswata says lack of adequate public ambulances leads many patients lose thier lives on thier way to health centres adding that the ministry of health still operates under insufficient budget leading to poor service delivery.
Meanwhile Dr.Kabweru Wilberforce senior consultant surgeon says ambulances used in Uganda are types A and which don’t meet standards. He recommends use of type C.
