In Saturday Vision: Mulago brain, kidney machine fails

Another vital machine used for detecting heart, kidney, brain, bones and thyroid infections at Mulago National Referral Hospital has broken down leaving hundreds of patients stranded.

The Spect Gamma Camera machine which handles about 200 patients a month broke down in 2013 and it has not been repaired or replaced. Sources said the machine lacks batteries worth sh3m.  

Patients are now being referred to other countries especially Kenya.

The machine was donated to the government of Uganda in 2002 by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to expand Nuclear medicine services in Uganda. 

A source who wished to remain anonymous said that because of the breakdown of the machine, radioactive drugs worthy $80,000 (sh270m) supplied by National Medical Stores are rotting away in their stores because they cannot prescribe the drugs without test results from the machine.

Read the details in Saturday Vision