KCCA decries limited funding to health facilities
The KCCA director for Public Health and Environment, Dr Sarah Zalwango, told a team led by Dr. Warren Namara, the director of the State House Health Monitoring Unit (SHMU), that ever since the inception of KCCA, the budget for health facilities has never increased despite the overwhelming numbers seeking care in the facilities.
Namara warned that his unit carries out investigations, adding, "That is why they work with the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) of Police. It is not victimisation; in an investigation, we work with all security agencies. If you are at fault, you go and discuss with the judiciary.” (Credit: David Lukiiza)
KAMPALA - The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) leadership has decried the limited budget given to its health facilities.
The KCCA director for Public Health and Environment, Dr Sarah Zalwango, told a team led by Dr. Warren Namara, the director of the State House Health Monitoring Unit (SHMU), that ever since the inception of KCCA, the budget for health facilities has never increased despite the overwhelming numbers seeking care in the facilities.
This was during a meeting with the SHMU team at the Office of the Prime Minister’s Boardroom in Kampala today (September 22).
Zalwango said they have already addressed their concerns with the Ministry of Health, but the issue is still pending. She welcomed the idea of monitoring these facilities by the SHMU, arguing that it will help KCCA improve on service delivery.
Zalwango said the KCCA health budget for the last 15 years has been sh15b, fluctuating in some years to sh14b. "Fund allocation has not changed for the last 10 to 15 years," she said. (Credit: David Lukiiza)
Several health officials revealed that patients who seek treatment at the KCCA health facilities travel from the Metropolitan areas of Wakiso, Mukono and Mpigi for better services.
Dr. Christopher Oundo, the supervisor of medical services at KCCA, told the team that planning for city health facilities was being done at the same level as other health facilities in district local governments, yet Kampala has a wider scope.
He informed the team that result-based financing was suspended in all KCCA health facilities in the 2021/22 financial year, adding that the Ministry of Health required KCCA to have an account for each of their facilities.
On his part, Namara informed the KCCA team, which comprised the Kampala Minister, Minsa Kabanda, Members of Parliament, Resident City Commissioners, and KCCA health officials, that his team was out to monitor health facilities to ensure that patients get good service delivery, investigate complaints, monitor health equipment, supplies, and address poor service delivery.
He warned that if any medical officer is faulted by the community, they will face the law. "We are not here to fault anybody."
Namara warned that his unit carries out investigations, adding, "That is why they work with the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) of Police. It is not victimisation; in an investigation, we work with all security agencies. If you are at fault, you go and discuss with the judiciary.”