MASAKA– The State Minister for Economic Monitoring, Beatrice Akello has launched investigations into the alleged theft of government drugs by nurses and doctors in Masaka Regional Referral Hospital.
Beatrice Akello accompanied by security agencies stormed the hospital following complaints from patients that there was rampant theft of drugs from the hospital pharmacy and stores.
Patients at the hospital told the minister that they are forced by the doctors and nurses to buy the stolen drugs from the private canteens established inside the hospital or from private clinics outside the hospital.
Minister Akello visited the hospital maternity ward where mothers told her that midwives ask them for money, saying there are no drugs in the hospital.
The minister cautioned hospital officials, saying canteens are not supposed to sell drugs nor licensed to sell any drugs.
She urged police in Masaka to tighten security at the hospital’s main gate, especially to curb the theft of medicines in the hospital.
”Local authorities together with security organs have a duty to monitor, investigate and help minimise drug thefts,” she said.
According to Dr. Herbert Kalema, a senior gynecologist, Masaka hospital maternity ward with 70 beds capacity conducts about 30 deliveries daily, of which 17 are normal deliveries and 13 caesarian.
However, the chairperson of patients in the hospital, Swaib Makumbi Sulambaya told the minister that some pregnant mothers are not attended to unless they pay money to the midwives.
”It is unfortunate to find a public hospital like Masaka referral hospital where health workers ask for money before they handle a patient, especially in the maternity ward,” he said, asking why the health officials are not satisfied with the recent increment of their salaries.
A senior nursing officer at the hospital, Florence Chelimo denied allegations that midwives ask for money from mothers in the maternity ward.
However, minister Akello said Uganda’s health sector has been rocked by the theft of government drugs in the hospitals over the years, adding that her investigations will help to capture all the culprits and save the patients from suffering.
https://thecooperator.news/patients-foot-bills-as-staff-smuggle-medicines-out-of-govt-hospitals/
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