LUCKY
The Kabarole District Chairman Richard Rwabuhinga, has threatened to close all government health centers that have been operating in the last 6 months without drugs.
NRM government blamed
According to Rwabuhinga, since August last year, the district has not received any drug from National Medical Stores, which forces health workers to prescribe drugs to patients so that they buy in pharmacies.
“This act of failing to deliver prior things like drugs embarrasses the NRM government that promised to deliver free quality health services.” He noted
The closure
Rwabuhinga, notes that if National Medical Stores does not supply drugs to health centers by 31st January 2023, he will mobilize an urgent council sitting and they close the health centers leaving the Maternity wards to operate for women to deliver.
He says due to lack of drugs, people have become very hostile, abusing the health workers which humiliation cannot be tolerated.
When Contacted, the DHO Dr. Stephen Kalyegira says an engagement with National Medical Stores to constantly supply the drugs is still ongoing and a supply will be made soon to the respective health facilities, thus residents can patiently wait on the process.
Residents respond
A one, Flavia Kobusinge, resident of Kicuna who was found at Kidubuli health center, narrated that nurses after diagnosing her of malaria, was told by a nurse to go buy drugs from a pharmacy.
She observed that the situation is worrying enough, if everybody is getting the same response like she got, thus asking for government quick intervention to the matter.
NMS to supply soon
On December 16, 2022, National Medical Stores in a public notice announced its closure for stock take, and resumed on January 16, 2023 for public supply.
The same agency, announced that the delivery of medicine to all health facilities would continue as indicated or updated on their daily schedules.
Notably, In the recently released budget on January 11, 2023, Finance permanent Secretary and Secretary for trreasury, Ramathan Ggoobi revealed that out of the released 6.3 trillion for the third quarter of the financial year 2022/23, a total of Ushs 122.410 billion has been provided to NMS for the purchase of essential medicine and drugs to supply in hospitals and health facilities.
