A recent report by the Committee on Public Accounts for Central Government has raised concerns over the state of oxygen plants in several Ugandan hospitals. Moroto, Yumbe, and Soroti Regional Referral Hospitals have oxygen plants that are either non-functional or incomplete, despite being worth billions of shillings. The committee's report, presented by Deputy Chairperson Sarah Lwansasula, highlighted that two oxygen plants at Moroto Hospital, worth Shs3.72 billion, have been idle for three years due to unfinished and locked-up plant houses.
The report revealed that the Ministry of Health entrusted the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineering Brigade with the completion of the plant houses on July 30, 2022, with a six-month deadline. However, the project remains unfinished. Furthermore, the oxygen plant at Soroti, valued at Shs3.727 billion, is incomplete, and its site has been abandoned. An 800-ampere breaker was also damaged during transit. The committee observed that these failures undermine service delivery and reflect serious contract management failures.
The committee's report also highlighted issues with the oxygen plants in Soroti, where two out of three plants are not working. One plant was never handed over by the UPDF and Ministry of Health, while another remains unserviced due to a centrally held service contract. The report noted that oxygen plants worth Shs7.7 billion in underserved regions have produced little or no oxygen. The committee recommended that the Ministry of Health and the UPDF Engineering Brigade be held accountable for the delays.
The committee's report also revealed that National Medical Stores (NMS) deliveries were often late, with delays of up to 28 days at Fort Portal, 38 days at Gulu, 44 days at Hoima, 27 days at Kayunga, and 136 days at Soroti. Additionally, the audit found that medicine stock-outs lasted up to 157 days at Arua, 102 days at Hoima, and 400 days at Soroti. These prolonged stock-outs disrupt treatment and compromise patient care.
The committee found that Soroti Regional Referral Hospital experienced a 400-day stock-out of second-line antiretroviral medicine, Darunavir. Furthermore, the medicine expired at Arua and Hoima Regional Referral Hospitals during the same period, limiting redistribution opportunities. The committee tasked NMS to report to Parliament within 60 days on its delivery performance for each regional hospital.
The committee also made recommendations to the Ministry of Health, including establishing a system for redistributing near-expiry program medicines among hospitals. Additionally, accounting officers were tasked with instituting monthly stock monitoring and quarterly reporting on stock-out days, order fulfillment, and deliveries. The report was adopted without debate, following guidance from Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth.
The government is expected to present a Treasury Memorandum within six months. The committee's report highlights the need for improved contract management and accountability in the healthcare sector. The implementation of the committee's recommendations will be crucial in addressing the issues affecting healthcare service delivery in Uganda.
Key points
- Oxygen plants worth Shs7.7 billion in underserved regions have produced little or no oxygen.
- Prolonged medicine stock-outs have disrupted treatment and compromised patient care in several Ugandan hospitals.
- The committee has recommended that the Ministry of Health and the UPDF Engineering Brigade be held accountable for the delays in completing and handing over the oxygen plants.
