Surgeons Advocate for Improved Access to Surgical Care

The Association of Surgeons has urged the government to improve access to surgical care for all Ugandans.

Professor Moses Galukande, the President of the association, while speaking at the Annual Surgical Scientific Conference and Surgical Landscape Exhibition at Speke Resort Munyonyo, said that in Uganda, access to surgical services is extremely limited, increasing the gap of unmet needs.

According to Galukande, only about 25 percent of the people who need surgical services can access them, urging the government to improve the number of surgeons, infrastructure, and the equipment used in surgery.

Galukande also wants the needs of surgeons to be included in the National Development Plan or the annual budget of the Ministry of Health.

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Moreover, Galukande emphasized the importance of people knowing what Uganda’s surgeons can do, as many are going abroad to seek surgical services that can be obtained within the country.

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Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, said that surgeons should build confidence among the public to understand what they do.

Atwine also advised the surgeons to foster unity among themselves as a professional association, not just like the Uganda Medical Association, and advocate for policies that would encourage the Ministry of Health to respond or get involved.

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Atwine expressed gratitude for the surgical camps conducted by the association in different regions of the country, acknowledging that Uganda has the necessary skills while showcasing to the public what Uganda's surgeons can offer.

She, however, said that there is still more need to build public confidence that the available skills can handle their surgical needs. 

According to Atwine, despite the quality of surgical skills Uganda possesses, the country still faces challenges with adequate equipment to enable surgeons to operate effectively.

She asked the Association of Surgeons to engage her ministry with good proposals to see how the Ministry of and the government can help to solve some of the challenges.

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Uganda’s unmet surgical need remains high, with over 27 percent of persons aged 50 years and above in need of surgical care.

The third edition of the three-day surgical conference is under the theme "Re- Re-imagining surgical education and care, pivoting to equitable and holistic practices".