Minister presents health sector medium term expenditure frame work to parliament

0

State for Minister for Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi

State for Minister for Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi

?In the next financial year 2015/2016, government plans to recruit an additional 3,000 health workers, including anesthetists, medical doctors, nurses, midwives and surgeons, targeting critical cadres to offer maternal and child health, anesthetists? services in health centers 3 and 4 countrywide.? Baryomunsi also the Kinkizi East MP added.

He explained, in 2013 government advertised 10, 231 vacancies but got 7,200 applications leaving a shortage of over 3,000 workers.

Baryomunsi revealed this while presenting the health sector medium term expenditure frame work (MTEF) 2015/2015, before the parliament committee on health.

He explained there was a massive recruitment of health workers country wide in 2013, for health centers 3 and 4 targeting critical cadres to offer maternal and child health services, however only 196 medical officers, 1,067 midwives and 53 anesthetists were recruited.

He pointed out that most medics in Uganda shun the anesthetists? professional because they are underpaid. However he did not disclose what the anesthetists earn.

?Uganda has few anesthesiologists, government needs to consider raising their pay, or they will search for greener pastures in other countries.? he said.

An anesthesiologist is responsible for the preoperative assessment of the patient, an evaluation process that carefully considers both the patient?s current state of health and the planned surgical procedure that allows physician to make judgments about the safest anesthesia plan for each individual patient.

The health, minister Erioda Tumwesigye, Baryomunsi, the sector Permanent secretary, Dr. Asuman Lukwago and director general health services (ministry of health) Dr. Ruth Aceng were presenting their midterm expenditure frame work , on Tuesday before the parliament committee on health chaired by Kaberamaido county MP Dr. Kenneth Omona.

Government this year has allocated the health sector sh1.4trillion. The health ministry has been allocated sh519b, the national medical stores will take sh218.b, while district primary health was allocated sh293.b among sectors.

Omona said depending on the availability of the funds, government may fund the health sector more but after funding the propriety areas.

Tumwesigye also the Sheema North Constituency MP, said government also plans to construct a specialized maternal and neonatal unit at Mulago Hospital, costing $24m (about sh72b) funded by the International Development Bank.

Construction is expected to commence In May 2015.

A neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU), also known as an intensive care nursery, is an in specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants.

Tumwesigye added that government in the next financial year plans to rehabilitate 20 referral hospitals including: Adjuman, Kitgum, Kabarole, Kiboga, Kapchorwa, Kamwenge, Paluisa, Itojo, Kitagata, Bugiri, Atutur , Apac, Abim, Bundibugyo, Kaberamaido and Masindi.

Tumwesigye explained that apparently under the World Bank loan, renovations of hospitals including Moroto, Miyana, Nakaseke, Kiryandongo, Nebbi , Anaka, Moyo, Entebbe grade A and B and Iganga are ongoing.

He also said that under the support of the Italian government, government will construct 69m housing units for health workers in the Karamoja region.

Paul Kiwuuwa, The New Vision

Send your news stories to [email protected] Follow News Ghana on Google News

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here