Drug shortage hits gov’t health centers in Mbale city

Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Government health centers in Mbale city have not had essential drugs for the past three months, according to health authorities. There are three government health centers in Mbale city namely; Busamaga health center III and Namatala health center IV in Mbale City Industrial Division and Namakwekwe Health Center III in Mbale City Northern division.

A health official at Busamaga three health center III told URN on condition of anonymity that they last recieved medical supplies from the National Medical Stores in August last year. He says that they were supposed to get more medicines in January this year to run up to March, since they are supplied on a quarterly basis.

Apparently, the health workers diagnose patients and send them to private pharmacies to buy medicine. Anet Kaiyiza and Sunday Wabini, who were stranded at Busamaga health center III on Monday morning told URN that they couldn’t afford to buy drugs or treatment in private facilities. “We urge the government to consider poor taxpayers by stocking health centers with drugs,” they said.

Harriet Kakai, the Mbale city deputy mayor declined to comment on the matter and referred our reporter to the City Health Inspector, Charles Wandera. He told our reporter that not only Busamanga health center but all health center IIIs and IVs across Mbale city have had no drugs for the last three months.

As a city, we have no solutions since the supply of drugs is done by the Ministry of Health and National Medical Stores,” he said. James Kutosi, the Mbale City Communication officer said that the problem is in all government health centers countrywide.

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URN