Hire doctors â€" Muhwezi
Oct 07, 2004
The health minister, Brig. Jim Muhwezi, has directed District Service Commissions (DSC) to advertise and recruit doctors for hospitals and health centres where there are shortages
By Josephine Maseruka
The health minister, Brig. Jim Muhwezi, has directed District Service Commissions (DSC) to advertise and recruit doctors for hospitals and health centres where there are shortages.
Appearing before the parliamentary social services committee on Tuesday, Muhwezi said he had already issued the directive to the DSCs to ensure that doctors who went for further studies without permission are replaced.
He said those who got permission should have their salaries paid from the headquarters and not by districts, to allow replacement. He said on completion of their studies, they would be re-allocated.
The committee chaired by Dorothy Hyuha (Tororo) had expressed concern over the inadequate staffing, especially of doctors, at all levels.
The committee said in its recent field work in eastern Uganda, they discovered that Tororo Hospital, which is supposed to have eight doctors, had only one. The rest were on study leave.
“Imagine in Sironko district, if a woman gets a ruptured uterus she cannot survive because there are no doctors. If an accident occurs and a car skids from uphill, all passengers would not be saved. This should urgently be addressed,†Hyuha said.
The Director General of Curative Service, Dr. Sam Zaramba, said the circular to effect the recruitment of medical personnel was issued sometime back and it took immediate effect.
The state minister for health, Dr. Alex Kamugisha, said by next April all health centre IVs would have operational theatres.
He said the ministry had already commissioned theatres in Masaka Rwenzori and Rakai.
MPs told the health ministry to open up so that districts are given guidelines on recruitment of doctors, given the sh4.5b approved this financial year for recruitment.
Prof. George Kirya of the Health Service Commission said proper human resources management was vital for the health sector to save lives.
The health minister, Brig. Jim Muhwezi, has directed District Service Commissions (DSC) to advertise and recruit doctors for hospitals and health centres where there are shortages.
Appearing before the parliamentary social services committee on Tuesday, Muhwezi said he had already issued the directive to the DSCs to ensure that doctors who went for further studies without permission are replaced.
He said those who got permission should have their salaries paid from the headquarters and not by districts, to allow replacement. He said on completion of their studies, they would be re-allocated.
The committee chaired by Dorothy Hyuha (Tororo) had expressed concern over the inadequate staffing, especially of doctors, at all levels.
The committee said in its recent field work in eastern Uganda, they discovered that Tororo Hospital, which is supposed to have eight doctors, had only one. The rest were on study leave.
“Imagine in Sironko district, if a woman gets a ruptured uterus she cannot survive because there are no doctors. If an accident occurs and a car skids from uphill, all passengers would not be saved. This should urgently be addressed,†Hyuha said.
The Director General of Curative Service, Dr. Sam Zaramba, said the circular to effect the recruitment of medical personnel was issued sometime back and it took immediate effect.
The state minister for health, Dr. Alex Kamugisha, said by next April all health centre IVs would have operational theatres.
He said the ministry had already commissioned theatres in Masaka Rwenzori and Rakai.
MPs told the health ministry to open up so that districts are given guidelines on recruitment of doctors, given the sh4.5b approved this financial year for recruitment.
Prof. George Kirya of the Health Service Commission said proper human resources management was vital for the health sector to save lives.