Medical travel: Nambooze critical of medical board

KAMPALA - Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze has criticized the medical board for its poor handling of Ugandans who seek medical treatment abroad.

While appearing on the floor of parliament, she narrated the ordeal she went through to secure permission to fly to South Africa for treatment after falling sick two months ago.

The legislator said that the requirements that have to be fulfilled by an individual seeking treatment abroad are lengthy, warning it could put at risk the lives of people seeking medical trips.

"The procedure Madam Speaker unfortunately doesn't cater for emergencies," said Nambooze.

"The bar for those who qualify to travel abroad for treatment is raised so high, that one has to prove that one has exhausted all local options before being cleared.

"And Madam Speaker it is not very easy to determine that one has exhausted all the local options. On such a rate Madam Speaker, we might find ourselves having to fund funerals for deaths that might have otherwise been avoided."