Bill to regulate private medical institutions quashed

Mar 24, 2007

THE government on Thursday opposed a Bill to regulate private medical institutions and practioners on the grounds that the proper procedure had not been followed.

By Henry Mukasa and John Odyek

THE government on Thursday opposed a Bill to regulate private medical institutions and practioners on the grounds that the proper procedure had not been followed.

The Bill introduced by Dr. Sam Lyomoki would check overcharging and unethical conduct by private medical practioners.

He said the law would reinforce the NRM manifesto, which proposed medical insurance.

Lyomoki, a workers MP, said the Bill would reform and update the laws related to private medical and dental practice and regulate the emoluments paid to medical workers of private medical units.

Dr. Chris Baryomunsi (Kinkizi East) clarified that the Bill should be supported because half of the patients who seek health care go to private medical units.

“The motion is about health. And when we talk about health we talk about life and death,” he added.

He said the Medical and Dental Practioners Act, 1998 had loopholes that needed to be patched, especially in the area of supervision and regulation. “For patients who go to the private medical institutions, some practioners look at the nature of your shoes and determine how much you will be charged. For service of sh1,000 you pay sh1m,” Baryomunsi commented.

“It’s a pro-poor Bill which when passed will defend our voters.”

Baryomunsi added that there was urgency to have a law that checks the ownership, ethical practice and discipline of private medical practioners.

However, the state minister for general duties in the office of the Prime Minister, Adolf Mwesige, said the Government was opposed to the Bill on points of law and procedure.

He said: “My advice to the mover (Lyomoki) is to withdraw the motion and to consult the minister of health, so that when moved, it’s in line with the rules of procedure and the constitution.

“For those reasons, I oppose the motion. And that is the stand of the Government.”

The Deputy Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, deferred the debate and directed the Clerk to Parliament to circulate copies of the Bill to all MPs.

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