By Caroline Kirabo
The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) and the Ministry of Health have warned against the impending 2024–2025 health budget cuts that could lead to a health crisis in the country.
According to the pending national budget for the 2024–2025 fiscal year presented by the government in parliament earlier this month, the health budget was cut from 1.692 trillion to 1.56 trillion, or $640 billion in health care.
The Uganda Medical Association (UMA), led by its president, Dr. Herbert Luswata, said the cuts would further exacerbate the working conditions in the country and affect people who need access to various health services.
The Mulago General Hospital was cut by four (4) billion from 129 billion to 125 billion.
The funds of the Uganda Cancer Institute were also cut by 12 billion, from 102 billion to 90 billion.
The Uganda Cancer Institute has for years been complaining about the low funding, while the incidence of cancer is increasing day by day among the citizens.
However, the Uganda Heart Institute has had its budget increased from 68 billion to 105 billion.
The national medical store remained unchanged at $587 billion for 2023–2024, despite complaints from various hospitals over the shortage of medicines and equipment.
Over the years, healthcare providers have been challenged by low funding for hospitals to deliver services to citizens, many of which have been reported to be in poor condition, with little equipment, poorly paid doctors, a lack of technical equipment, and even fewer specialists. Intern doctors have been protesting on a daily basis.
In the face of such challenges, people with money decide to flee abroad for treatment.
Reports show that the government spends more than $300 billion annually to treat government officials who flee to foreign hospitals for modern treatment that is not available in local hospitals, which can build 10 state-of-the-art hospitals annually.