Mulago proposes policy to end moonlighting by doctors

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Dr. Byarugaba Baterana, the Executive Director Mulago National Referral Hospital wants the government to introduce a policy stopping medical workers employed by the government from working in private facilities.

Addressing the newly inaugurated board of Mulago National Referral Hospital, Dr. Baterana noted that one of the major challenges the national referral is facing is the moonlighting of doctors.

He noted that such doctors mislead and smuggle patients from Mulago hospital to private medical facilities like clinics and pharmacies. A number of these facilities, he said have been strategically established around Mulago hospital so that patients that come to the facility are easily sneaked away.

The Annual Health Sector performance report indicates that government health facilities employ over 2000 doctors across the country. With these however, the doctor-patient ratio is still at 1:25000 below the World Health Organization recommended ratio of 1:1000. Most private facilities rely on doctors from government facilities.

Dr Edward Kanyesigye, the Mulago National Referral Hospital board chairperson said there is a need to critically consider the issue raised by Dr. Baterana on the moonlighting of doctors.

“We are the kind of board that has come to offer deliverables, we shall digest the matter and resolve accordingly,” he said. Apart from the problem of moonlighting doctors, Dr. Baterana also decried the inadequate funding to the hospital.

He said that they only receive Shillings 8.7billion instead of the Shillings 101.01 Billion, which they need. He also noted the need to fence the hospital land to keep off encroachers and potential land grabbers.

The other members of the new board inaugurated on September 04th, 2021 are businessman, Patrick Bitature, Dr Henry Mwebesa, the Director-General of Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Researcher and Paediatrician Philippa Musoke, among others.

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