The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, has said the low cost of treating Covid-19 patients at Lacor hospital in northern Uganda is partly due to the government’s contribution to the hospital.

According to Dr. Cyprian Opiira, the executive director of the hospital, Lacor charges sh715,000 for treating a Covid-19 patient for the entire period in the hospital.

This is significantly lower compared with the fee of between sh2m and sh5m charged by private hospitals, mostly in Kampala.

On the other hand, Government health facilities are free, although not sufficient enough to treat the high numbers.

During the National Day of Prayers, which was called for the country to intercede during the difficult times of the ravaging second wave of the pandemic, president Yoweri Museveni asked Atwine to explain the discrepancies. This was at State House.

"We gave them equipment. Actually, their ICU (Intensive Care Unit), it is us (the Government), who equipped it. That helped them to significantly cut down costs. Also, I think they have their own oxygen plant, and the numbers of Covid-19 patients they are getting are fewer," she responded to the president.

St. Mary's Hospital Lacor, commonly referred to as Lacor Hospital, is located in Gulu District.

It was founded by Comboni Missionaries and is administered and managed by Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu.