The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police in the Kiira region are holding a 22-year old laboratory technician who was found in possession of drugs and medical equipment that were stolen from Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.
The lab technician identified as Benjamin Feni was found with consignments of HIV and malaria testing kits, 30 pieces of mama kits, one oxygen concentrator and medical guideline books.
The items some of which were expired were recovered from Global Laboratories Limited, an entity registered under the name of Peter Otim, a former intern doctor at Jinja Hospital, who currently serves as the in-charge of Bulisa Health Centre IV.
His arrest followed a report by a whistleblower who had been forced to pay for government drugs at the lab. According to the whistleblower, an intern doctor at Jinja Hospital recommended an antimalarial test and a combination of medicines which cost 65,000 Shillings from the suggested lab.
However, he noticed later that the medicines had Government of Uganda initials, implying that they were not for sale. But all efforts to secure a refund did not yield any results forcing the whistleblower to report the matter to the police.
Feni who is now held at Jinja Central Police Station acknowledges that he has been working with intern doctors to access government stores. He says that the same intern doctors recommend patients to access medical services at his facility in exchange for a 10 per cent commission for every referred client.
The hospital administrators have declined to comment about the matter stressing that, it is being handled by police. But Kiira Regional Police Spokesperson James Mubi says that cases of drug theft are rampant within government health facilities and the police are working tirelessly to burst the syndicate.
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