According to an insider at the hospital, the facility currently has only anti-malarial drugs, painkillers, and a few antibiotics available for dispensation at the Outpatient Department (OPD).
“The Q3 release aligns with our efforts to reallocate resources from old priorities to key growth drivers. Our focus remains on promoting technical efficiency and ensuring service delivery at the lowest cost,” said Ggoobi.
A nurse working at the emergency ward who spoke on condition of anonymity says that, some financially capable patients opt for surrounding private health facilities, whereas others die during their referral to Mulago national referral hospital.
A source from the records department told URN on condition of anonymity that some health workers blocked them from availing the health ministry the exact number of the cylinders, which had been donated to the hospital by well-wishers.
A security guard, who spoke on condition of anonymity says that most of the essential footage, which would help police to identify the prime suspects in this matter, was deleted from the hospital's CCTV servers, which has slowed down the investigations.
Charles Eyoung, the Psychiatric Medical Officer at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital revealed that the treatment of a single patient cost more than a million Shillings, which the government isn’t providing. Naltrexone, one of the most expensive drugs used for the treatment of mental health patients tentatively costs the government Shillings 650,000.
Murungi Monica, the Ibaale HC II in charge, notes that at on several occasions they have been forced to use their own money to buy things like gloves and masks because they last received a consignment from National Medical Stores -NMS about two months ago.
Mark Donald Mwesiga, the Country Director Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU), an entity that coordinates palliative care services urged patients who run out of their refills to contact their respective providers who will ensure that the drugs reach them.
Dr Doreen Agasha Birungi, the clinical director of Hospice Africa Uganda told the meeting that they resolved to close morphine production together with a host of other services that Hospice Africa provides including providing homecare to people at the end of life stage. This was done, in respect of the social distancing principle.
While free government supplies are normally supplied through the National Medical Stores, Alain said they chose to use an alternative distribution strategy whereby the commodities will be distributed through the Joint Medical Stores.
Irene Nankanja says she has spent over 150,000 shillings on buying the prescribed drugs from pharmacies but she is now stuck after running out of money for another dose.
Once it starts one will just need to click onto the portal to establish at what level their order is and that facilities will be able to know at the time of ordering what drugs are available at the stores, those that are limited in stock and alternatives for the drugs that are out of stock. One will also be able to tell, when a facility last ordered, when they got the refills and the intervals with which they are leaving the facilities.
Rose Mary Ayaa, the Senior Nursing Officer Kitgum General Hospital explains tracing the infants will involve reviewing the Health Information System at the hospital and lower health facilities to establish those who missed out on the immunisation.
According to Robina Biteyi, the Executive Director White Ribbon Alliance, there are no implants at the National Medical Stores. She said other challenges that are constantly faced include shipping delays and manufacturing challenges with the supply of injectable contraceptives which are also the most popular in Uganda.
The study shows that 60 per cent of health centres did not have knowledge about Non-Communicable Diseases, drugs to treat or even equipment required to handle specific ailments.
