How patients are harmed in hospitals

In Uganda, the recurring causes of an unsafe environment for patients include the existence of numerous unskilled personnel in the health facilities and low patient involvement in their own safety.

Janepher Wabulyu, the advocacy and communications coordinator at the Uganda Alliance of Patients Organisations (UAPO) says there have been numerous complaints by patients about negligent and uncouth behaviour of medical officers towards them.

Wabulyu says many health workers do not pay enough attention to ensure they gather proper and relevant information from patients before any medical services are offered.

She says many health workers behave this way majorly as a result of discontentment and the fact that the government underpays them, in addition to the low staffing issues.

“The government therefore has to cater for the health workers’ welfare, especially with regard to their pay, which will improve their attitudes. This is an obligation that can only be carried out by the government,” she says.

Wabulyu says that it is also important to protect health workers and patients from physical and biological hazards by ensuring availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times that is relevant to the roles and tasks performed, in adequate quantities, and appropriate, fit, and of acceptable quality.

Dr Martin Ssendyona, the acting commissioner for standards, compliance, and patient protection in the Health ministry, says that many times, patients do not disclose the entire truth about their health to doctors. He also adds that patients tend to give misleading information about their drug use and that it is more common with patients who move from hospital to hospital.

“These dishonest patients hide the truth about their medication to avoid being judged,” Ssendyona says.

He adds that the consequences of this patient dishonesty can be super serious.

“Physicians say that patients can be misdiagnosed and prescribed treatment that can worsen existing conditions,” he says.

Dr. Ssendyona advises that the mental health psychological wellbeing of health workers should be improved.

“This includes maintaining appropriate safe staffing levels within health facilities, providing health related insurance to ensure coverage for work related risk, especially for those working in high-risk areas,”

Dr. Ssendyona says that there is also need for the government to increase funds allocated to the health sector. This is in order to reduce the corruption of the various health workers at these institutions and to ensure that all patients are able to access basic healthcare services at each health centre in the country.

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