Many Ugandans suffering from kidney disease are struggling to afford dialysis due to funding constraints at Kiruddu National Referral Hospital. The hospital requires Shs48.967 billion annually to meet its dialysis consumables needs but received only Shs10.677 billion, leaving a significant shortfall. This has forced the hospital to reduce dialysis sessions for some patients from the recommended three times a week to twice weekly.
The affordability challenge is compounded by the high cost of treatment, with a dialysis kit alone costing about Shs350,000 per session. Despite this, the hospital charges patients Shs60,000, which is described as a modest contribution rather than the actual cost of treatment. Patients who cannot afford the contribution are not turned away, but the hospital accumulates unpaid bills as it tries to keep the service accessible.
Kiruddu Hospital Director and Accounting Officer Dr Charles Kabugo told Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Central that the hospital conducts between 80 and 90 dialysis sessions daily, including overnight. This reflects the demand for the service and the pressure on available supplies. The hospital’s dialysis budget had increased from approximately Shs2.5 billion to Shs10.2 billion, but the resources remain insufficient to meet the growing demand.
The hospital had already exhausted its November allocation for consumables and was making arrangements to procure supplies for December. Dr Kabugo said the hospital had requested supplementary funding from the Ministry of Finance and was engaging Ministry of Health management over the cost of dialysis. The hospital is working to address the funding gap and ensure that patients receive the necessary treatment.
Beyond the funding constraints, Dr Kabugo raised concern about patients arriving at national referral hospitals when their conditions are already critical due to delayed referrals. He urged Ugandans to seek medical attention early and use regional referral hospitals, which are increasingly equipped with specialised diagnostic services. This can help reduce the burden on Kiruddu and improve patient outcomes.
Dr Kabugo also noted a change in disease burden, with Kiruddu seeing fewer malaria cases while complicated conditions, including kidney disease and cancer, become more prominent. He attributed some of the changing disease patterns to lifestyle, diet, limited physical activity, and possible exposure to harmful substances in food and the environment.
Kiruddu has introduced a zero-cost policy for mothers who develop kidney complications following childbirth and accident victims who suffer kidney injuries. The hospital is also supporting the establishment of dialysis services at regional referral hospitals, including Mbale, Lira, Mbarara, and Hoima, with plans to extend support to Jinja and Arua. This initiative aims to reduce the burden on patients who travel to Kampala for dialysis.
Key points
- Kiruddu National Referral Hospital faces a UGX 38.3Bn funding gap for dialysis consumables.
- The hospital has reduced dialysis sessions for some patients due to funding constraints.
- Kiruddu is working to establish dialysis services at regional referral hospitals to improve accessibility.
