Cash crisis halts Mulago surgical operations
May 09, 2005
MULAGO Hospital has postponed several surgical operations following the delayed release of the hospital’s supplementary budget.
By Richard Komakech
MULAGO Hospital has postponed several surgical operations following the delayed release of the hospital’s supplementary budget.
Staff at the country’s biggest referral Hospital have also been warned to sparingly use the drugs in stock.
A source at the hospital said a senior management committee sat yesterday to review the worrying situation.
The hospital applied for a sh3b supplementary budget last December but no money has been availed.
The hospital’s deputy director, Dr. Gideon Kikampikaho, told heads of surgical departments that only emergency cases should be handled.
“This is to inform you that all cold surgery will be suspended with effect from Monday until further notice. Only emergency cases will be done in all surgical departments,†he said in a circular.
Cold surgery refers to planned and scheduled surgery.
The affected departments are surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology and the ear, nose and throat surgery unit.
The circular was copied to the principal nursing officer at the main theatre and senior nursing officers in the gynaecology and orthopaedics theatres.
Kikampikaho told The New Vision that the increased admission rate had strained the hospital.
“We cannot sustain this for a long time without drugs and sundries yet this time round there’s an excessive number of patients both admitted and in the out-patient department,†he said.
“We cannot turn away patients. So we are just going to concentrate the little resources available on managing dire emergencies and hope there’s a quick response to our need,†Kikampikaho said.
MULAGO Hospital has postponed several surgical operations following the delayed release of the hospital’s supplementary budget.
Staff at the country’s biggest referral Hospital have also been warned to sparingly use the drugs in stock.
A source at the hospital said a senior management committee sat yesterday to review the worrying situation.
The hospital applied for a sh3b supplementary budget last December but no money has been availed.
The hospital’s deputy director, Dr. Gideon Kikampikaho, told heads of surgical departments that only emergency cases should be handled.
“This is to inform you that all cold surgery will be suspended with effect from Monday until further notice. Only emergency cases will be done in all surgical departments,†he said in a circular.
Cold surgery refers to planned and scheduled surgery.
The affected departments are surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology and the ear, nose and throat surgery unit.
The circular was copied to the principal nursing officer at the main theatre and senior nursing officers in the gynaecology and orthopaedics theatres.
Kikampikaho told The New Vision that the increased admission rate had strained the hospital.
“We cannot sustain this for a long time without drugs and sundries yet this time round there’s an excessive number of patients both admitted and in the out-patient department,†he said.
“We cannot turn away patients. So we are just going to concentrate the little resources available on managing dire emergencies and hope there’s a quick response to our need,†Kikampikaho said.