By Joyce Namutebi

THE Ministry of Health has unearthed seven ghost health centres in Kampala district which made the Government lose over sh6m every month, state minister James Kakooza has said.

Kakooza said last Thursday that one of the health centres was located at the main post office, one at the railway station and one in Nsambya.

He said the anomally was discovered by a team led by Police chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura.

“We have been giving them drugs but the health centres are not there,” Kakooza said, adding that each health centre got between sh870,000 to sh900,000 monthly.

He said the issue of ghost health centres is a countrywide problem which has caused drug shortages.
He appealed to the public to be patient as the ministry establishes the exact number of health centres.

The ghosts have been discovered since the Government changed its policy from sending drugs directly to the district health centres, rather than sending money to the districts for buying drugs.

In his end-of-year address, President Yoweri Museveni said the Government had for years sent funds to districts to buy drugs but there was little to show for it.

“Local governments have not made the purchases and even the few drugs that reach health centres from the National Medical Stores have been stolen, leading to shortage of drugs,” he said.

He added that labeling drugs and increased vigilance by both the population and the local leaders should ensure that these drugs are not stolen.

Health minister Stephen Malinga told Parliament last year that a special Police unit would work with the ministry to track down health officials who steal drugs.

He announced that the health ministers would make impromptu visits to health centres to ascertain the availability of drugs. A hotline has been created for the public to report lack of drugs in health centres. The number is 0772497261.