FORT PORTAL CITY, November 14, 2024 – Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital [FRRH] in Fort Portal City, one of 14 regional hospitals in Uganda to receive a computed tomography [CT] scan in November 2022, is struggling to effectively use the technology due to the absence of a qualified radiologist to operate it, impacting service delivery.
Since the Ministry of Health installed the CT scan at the hospital in April 2023, the hospital has faced ongoing challenges because there is no radiologist available to interpret the scan results. The CT scan is currently operated by the hospital’s radiographers, who are trained to use the machine but lack the expertise to analyze the images.
Dr. Oscar Kaliisa, Acting Director of FRRH, explained, “Although the CT scan was installed in April 2023, the government has yet to hire a radiologist to interpret the results. Our radiographers are trained to operate the machine but cannot provide the necessary interpretations.”
Dr. John Mali, head of the Radiology Department at the hospital, added that delays in report delivery are common because they must send data to Mulago National Referral Hospital for interpretation, which can take several days. He also pointed out that when the system goes down, it becomes even more difficult to send results for remote interpretation, further hindering patient care.
“Our patients often have to wait for long hours, or even days, to receive their results. This severely affects service delivery. We currently have only two radiographers responsible for operating the CT scan, X-ray, and handling at least 15 patients daily for these services, which is far too many for the limited staff,” Dr. Mali said.
Richard Mugahi, the Commissioner for Reproductive and Infant Health at the Ministry of Health, stated that despite the challenges, the ministry is working to recruit a radiologist for FRRH. However, he noted that Uganda has only 48 radiologists to serve a population of over 45 million, with 11 of them retired.
Dr. Kaliisa also highlighted the hospital’s broader staffing and equipment needs. “We need more specialists, including pathologists, surgeons, cardiologists, neurologists, and obstetricians, to meet the growing demand. Additionally, our equipment, much of which is outdated or in poor condition, needs urgent replacement. The hospital also requires more radiographers to handle the large number of patients coming from across the Rwenzori Sub-region and the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.”
A CT scan is critical for diagnosing a range of conditions, including bone and joint problems, complex fractures, tumors, cancer, heart diseases, liver masses, and head injuries among others. While private facilities charge over Shs 400,000 for a CT scan, the procedure is free of charge at government hospitals like FRRH.
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