Public baraza pins Iganga hospital managers over corruption

IGANGA - Iganga main hospital health workers have been accused of asking for bribes before offering medical services.

During a public gathering at the hospital compound, management described such actions as unethical and criminal.

Hakim Mugabo of Burubandi village in Nakigo sub-county, on Tuesday, told a public meeting that he lost a baby at Iganga General Hospital, after failing to pay sh20,000 to access oxygen services.

During a public gathering convened at the hospital premises, Mugabo said that when his wife delivered, the baby developed breathing complications and required oxygen services, but the doctor allegedly denied him the service amidst pleadings in vain.

He said instead of saving his baby's life, the doctor allegedly mocked him, saying that death was not new nor unique, as he pointed at empty hospital beds whose occupants had passed. 

Mugabo also accused the health workers of having specific health units they collaborate with where they refer pregnant mothers for scan services, and failure to comply and seek from other units leads to negligence for medication.

Mugabo was one of the stakeholders at the public meeting (baraza) convened by the hospital medical superintendent, Dr Ann Amatte.

The baraza public gathering followed reports by a number of residents and patients who accused health workers of demanding money before attending to any of the patients.

Some allegedly lost their patients over non-compliance.

In another report, Maj. David Ngobi, a resident of Nakavule ward in Iganga Municipality, accused the medics of negligence during the time his wife underwent surgery, expressing concern about the negligence of doctors when his wife was operated on at the hospital.

Ngobi said that his pregnant wife survived death when she was operated on three times after the first surgery was handled by people whom he identified as interns.

He regretted the incident and vowed never to seek medication at the facility, as he described the situation he had passed through as dangerous.

He asked the administrators to implore the doctors to have a heart for working with other patients who seek services at the hospital, since they are paid well.

Other residents accused doctors of bribery to the extent of demanding for food, tea and talking in English with intentions to pay them before they spoke in local language during service delivery.

The residents made the revelations at a public gathering, community health baraza organised by the hospital administrators at Ngobi road in Iganga municipality, with improving feedback and service delivery at the facility.

The hospital medical superintendent, Dr Ann Amatte, apologised to Mugabo, who lost his child and other victims of corruption on behalf of the doctors and the hospital management.

She pledged to engage the health workers on work ethics with the aim of asking them to change their attitude, terming such characters as unprofessional.

She appealed to patients to report such cases of corruption to the administrators instantly for urgent intervention and disciplinary action against the offenders, as she assured residents that all services were free at the hospital.

Hospital administrator Ramathan Gabooli said that the engagement helped them to check themselves and vowed to penalise the culprits at the hospital management level and refer other cases to district bosses and police for criminal proceedings.

Meanwhile, the deputy chief administrative officer, Silve Onyait, revealed that the hospital received a computerised system for capturing patient data, and currently, there is no need for patients to carry books for medical records.

However, the district vice chairperson Halid Mukacha assured patients of enough oxygen cylinders as they partnered with Tembo Steels Company, which supplies them in large numbers and the construction of an oxygen power plant, which is about to function when they access three-phase electricity.

The Iganga district assistant RDC, Ronald Masajage, who presided over the event, hailed residents for speaking out about their grievances and promised to collaborate with all stakeholders to normalise the situation and enjoy free medical services.