One patient, who wished to remain anonymous, shared their experience of being sent to a private clinic for tests, only for the results to be brought back to the hospital for treatment.
Patients at Moroto Regional Referral Hospital have raised serious concerns about the practices of some health workers, accusing them of referring them to private clinics for services that are available within the hospital.
One patient, who wished to remain anonymous, shared their experience of being sent to a private clinic for tests, only for the results to be brought back to the hospital for treatment. According to the patient, this process involves paying for tests at the clinic and then returning to the referral hospital for follow-up care, raising questions about the integrity of the practice.
Mwatum Kitui, a resident of Campshwahili Chini ward in the South Division, attributed the irregularities at the hospital to poor management. He was particularly concerned that the hospital lacked essential items such as bandages for treating broken bones.
"The patients are often asked to pay money for bandages, which are clearly labeled as government property, not for sale," Kitui explained. He further stated that some health workers have insisted that patients purchase the bandages if they want quick service. Kitui urged the health workers to serve the local community with integrity and not exploit them for financial gain.
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Charles Topoth, another local resident, echoed Kitui's concerns, particularly about the hospital’s equipment. He noted that the functionality of the hospital machines depended heavily on proper maintenance. "The hospital admin should consider equipping the building with the capacity of human resources to handle maintenance and mainstream it in the budget," Topoth said.
He also questioned why the machines often broke down, forcing patients to seek services elsewhere. "There is a need to equip the referral hospital with a complete laboratory," Topoth added, noting that patients are regularly referred to private clinics for tests like typhoid, when such tests should be available at the hospital. "The hospital should be a comprehensive medical facility that handles every case of illness," he stated.
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Dr. Stephen Pande, the Director of Moroto Regional Referral Hospital, responded to the allegations, emphasizing that referring patients to private clinics for services available within the hospital is illegal. "I want to categorically state that such actions are illegal," Dr. Pande said, strongly condemning the practice.
He assured the public that the hospital would hold accountable any health workers found to be involved in such activities. “Those involved in the foul play for quick money shall be brought to book,” Dr. Pande said, urging patients to always seek guidance from the hospital administration to ensure they are not being misled.
Dr. Pande further clarified that the hospital is fully equipped to offer most of the tests needed, and any referrals should only be made to well-established health facilities, with an official referral note. He emphasized that tests conducted at private clinics without proper referral are illegal and encouraged patients to report such incidents to the hospital management.
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Francis Adome, the Member of Parliament for Moroto Municipality, stressed the importance of the hospital engaging with the community to ensure transparency and trust. "It's important that the hospital always engage with the community so that they have first-hand information regarding the services offered," Adome said.
He urged the hospital administration to take the feedback from the community seriously and address any identified gaps in service delivery for the betterment of the entire Karamoja sub-region. "The leadership is committed to ensuring that we improve the medical services across the entire sub-region," Adome concluded, encouraging the hospital administration to report any challenges promptly to ensure they are properly addressed.
