Ntinda Medical Centre, have a heart!

Jul 16, 2009

EDITOR—On June 28, I was called to pick my daughter from school because she had severe malaria. I was back in Kampala by 8:30pm and took her straight to Family Doctors in Ntinda because I had been treated there and had found their professionalism and ge

EDITOR—On June 28, I was called to pick my daughter from school because she had severe malaria. I was back in Kampala by 8:30pm and took her straight to Family Doctors in Ntinda because I had been treated there and had found their professionalism and gentleness impressive.

Unfortunately, I found out that on Sundays, the clinic does not operate beyond 5:00pm and so I took her to Ntinda Medical Centre where my woes began.

After the girl’s blood had been checked, we were sent to see the doctor who suggested immediately that the girl be put on drip and admitted. I could not make up my mind immediately but impatience was written all over the doctor’s face and he asked me twice what I had decided.

Because I realised admission would put me in a very difficult position, I asked him for an alternative and he told me five malaria injections for five days and some other drugs. He made the prescription and added up the money which came up to sh75,000.

Unfortunately, I had misplaced my ATM card and had very little money on me. The doctor told me I had to pay an advance of sh50,000 before the girl could be treated. I pleaded with him to start treatment immediately as I looked for the money. He said I had to pay first.

I told him I had only sh20,000 on me but he advised me to “borrow from friends or relatives” because the case was very serious.

That doctor had a heart of stone and I felt like a hostage! I offered my driving permit as security so that the girl could start treatment immediately but he told me that he did not even accept passports! So, I left the girl at the clinic and drove home to Naalya.

I was only able to get an extra sh25,000 and went back. Fortunately, the doctor had moved out and I paid an advance of sh45,000 instead of sh50,000 and that is when the girl was given the first injection.

I took her home but the following evening when she went back, she was denied treatment because the balance of sh30,000 had to be cleared first! I had paid three-quarters of the money and the girl had only got one injection of diclophenac (pain killer) and another for malaria and had four full days to finish the full treatment.

How could I default and why? When my daughter rang me up, I could not believe it! I had to leave what I was doing and drive to the clinic. I paid the money without uttering a word but in my heart I swore that neither me nor any of my relatives will ever step in that awful clinic again—dead or alive.

I hope that doctor does not work in a Government hospital. Apparently, the late Tom Jjulunga was neither the first, nor the last victim of money-minded doctors! The health ministry and the health minister must do something to bring some semblance of professionalism in our hospitals, clinics and health centres.

It is embarrassing and frightening that money can come first in the minds of people entrusted with saving lives. Ntinda Medical Centre, please have a heart!

Saul Karamagi
Kampala

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