Uganda eyes partnership with India to address medical tourism
The expo is showcasing medical and pharmaceutical innovations, creating business and professional partnerships, transferring technology and exposing Ugandan healthcare stakeholders to solutions that can improve healthcare delivery.
Uganda Medical Association chairperson of continued development Dr Henry Ssekyanzi (centre) with minister of trade, industry and cooperatives, Sanjay Tanna (left) during the event. (Courtesy)
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Uganda is seeking deeper partnerships with India to bring advanced medical technology, investment and expertise into the country as health sector stakeholders push for solutions to reduce medical tourism and strengthen local healthcare delivery.
The call was made during the ongoing second MedTech Uganda and Uganda Pharma Expo going on at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) show grounds in Kampala.
The expo, running from August 13-15, has brought together stakeholders in pharmaceuticals, medical technology, manufacturing, laboratory services, dentistry, digital healthcare and related sectors.
The expo is showcasing medical and pharmaceutical innovations, creating business and professional partnerships, transferring technology and exposing Ugandan healthcare stakeholders to solutions that can improve healthcare delivery.
“The event is positioned as an international platform connecting manufacturers, healthcare professionals, hospitals, distributors, regulators, policymakers and other stakeholders,” said Sanjiv Patel, managing director of Tomil Group of Companies and advisory board member of the expo.
He said Uganda should use its relationship with India to develop a mutually beneficial healthcare partnership.
Patel cited statistics indicating that 86% of Ugandan patients travelling abroad for treatment go specifically to India.
He argued that instead of India-Uganda healthcare relations being limited to the purchase of medicines and equipment, Indian manufacturers and distributors should work with Ugandan businesses and institutions to transfer knowledge, develop technology and create local opportunities.
“This has to be a win-win situation for everybody,” said Patel, adding that Indian companies come with legitimate commercial interests, but Uganda should seize the opportunity to strengthen its own economy and healthcare system.
Nkuntu said the first edition had attracted both international and local participants and that interaction with foreign exhibitors had contributed to greater exposure for Ugandan manufacturers.
The technology dimension of the expo was highlighted by Rajesh Kumar, a digital healthcare solutions specialist, who argued that Uganda must move beyond traditional healthcare systems and embrace digital transformation.
Kumar pointed to digital hospital information management systems, electronic appointments, telemedicine, electronic access to laboratory results and digital patient records as technologies that could reduce long hospital queues and improve continuity of care.
For instance, a patient should be able to book an appointment electronically, access laboratory results remotely and allow doctors to review medical history through a unique patient identification system.
Kumar highlighted mobile laboratories as a potential solution for communities far from major hospitals, arguing that diagnostic services could be taken closer to patients rather than requiring them to travel long distances.
He said Uganda could also involve universities in developing local digital health solutions and proposed discussions around establishing a software park where local talent could develop technologies for the Ugandan market.
Dr Nuru Mugide, Vice President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda, said the country has seen significant growth in pharmaceutical manufacturing, with the number of pharmaceutical manufacturers rising from roughly six to 10 around 2010 to 56 to date.
She said the expo has given pharmacists and other healthcare professionals an opportunity to keep pace with new medicines, technologies, hospital management systems and laboratory innovations.
Mugide said the Pharmaceutical Society's priority remains ensuring that healthcare is accessible, affordable, safe and effective, while the expo can help bring manufacturers, regulators and healthcare professionals closer together.
For laboratory services, Dr Yusuf Muyingo, the secretary-general of the Uganda Medical Laboratory Technology Professionals Association, said mobile laboratories could help extend diagnostic services to underserved communities.
He said his association had already developed interest in the concept and called for stronger collaboration between laboratory professionals, equipment suppliers and other healthcare stakeholders.
The dental sector also sees technology partnerships as an important way of addressing Uganda's healthcare gaps.
Dr Matthew Rubona, president of the Uganda Dental Association, said Uganda has only about 425 dentists, creating an extremely difficult ratio between dental professionals and the population.
He said the high cost of training dentists and acquiring equipment and materials has historically constrained oral healthcare.
Rubona said partnerships with manufacturers in India and other Asian countries had helped make dental equipment and materials more affordable.
“Digital dental scans and X-rays can allow Ugandan dentists to seek specialist opinions from colleagues in India without sending patients abroad,” Rubona said.
He stressed that technology must be accompanied by training, professional development and appropriate regulation.
Uganda Medical Association chairperson of continued development Dr Henry Ssekyanzi said the association views the expo as an opportunity for doctors to learn about new medicines, diagnostics and medical technologies.
He said Uganda imports about 90% of its medical supplies and that approximately $352m (sh1.3trillion) is spent on medical devices and pharmaceutical commodities.
According to Ssekyanzi, the dependence on imports should also be viewed as an opportunity for Uganda to attract investment, strengthen technology transfer and eventually manufacture more medical products locally.