Mulago seeks sh40b for heart institute

Apr 01, 2009

Mulago Hospital needs $20m (about sh40b) to construct a new heart institute.

By Mary Karugaba

Mulago Hospital needs $20m (about sh40b) to construct a new heart institute.

The executive director, Dr. Edward Ddumba, told MPs on the public accounts committee that the current institute could not accommodate the increasing number of patients.

Ddumba said $10m would be allocated for the construction while the $10m balance would used to buy modern equipment.

Frank Tumwebaze (NRM) wondered why the hospital had failed to install some of the heart machines in their possession.

“They are so many Ugandans being referred abroad for heart surgery. Why have you failed to install the machines? Is it because of money? What do you want the Government to do for you?” he asked.

Mulago has in the past received heart surgery equipment with one of the most recent donation worth $2m (about sh3.4b) from Saudi crown prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz.

Ddumba disclosed to the committee that some of the open heart surgery machines had not been installed.

“Most of them are for open heart surgery which we have not started performing. So they are not critical,” he said.

Ddumba said the hospital had documented and submitted the requirements to the Government.

“To construct a heart institute is not like constructing a hotel. It needs modern theatres, furniture and air condition,” Ddumba said.

The committee chairperson, Nandala Mafabi (FDC), urged the Government to avail the hospital the money because most Ugandans could not afford the cost of foreign treatment.

Doctors have been referring most heart patients to Madras Medical Mission Hospital in India and others to South Africa.

The operation in India costs about $14,700 (sh25m). Many of the heart patients have been able to travel abroad with financial help from sympathisers.

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