Drug shortage hits Butabika Hospital

Butabika Hospital has been hit by a drugs shortage as a result of the increasing number of mental patients from upcountry.

30 psychiatric patients from Jinja Hospital and Bugembe mental health facility in Busoga region were referred to Butabika Hospital following the shortage of drugs in their health centres.  

Dr. David Basangwa the executive director of Butabika Hospital admitted that there is a shortage of drugs caused by increasing number of patients from upcountry. 

He said they receive 300 patients daily for review and new cases at the outpatient department. Since it's a national referral hospital, many people end up coming to Butabika Hospital instead of going to regional mental health centres.

He added that the respective regional hospitals should order for drugs from National Medical Stores (NMS). 

In 2006 the Ministry of Health carried out decentralisation of mental healthcare to all regional hospitals to reduce on overcrowding at Butabika Hospital. 

Uganda has 13 regional hospitals, which have been equipped to handle lower case mental health services and each is supposed to order for drugs from NMS.

However, NMS spokesperson Daniel Kimosho said there was a shortage of drugs because they were purchased. He said the fluctuating exchange rates affected their drug purchases this year.

He said the finance ministry has approved sh68b for purchase of drugs and they will be available in a month's time. He blamed the finance ministry for delaying approval of the money.

Basangwa added that the Ministry of Finance allocates sh1.2b, which does not adequately provide the necessary drugs.  He said the hospital needs about sh2b every year.  

"We lack enough doctors, nurses, counsellors and IT specialists" he said.