Spot Check At Kawempe Referral Hospital Highlights Key Service Delivery Issues
Jan. 20, 2025
On the night of Thursday, 16th January 2025, the Inspectorate of Government (IG) team at the Kampala Regional Office carried out an impromptu spot check at Kawempe Referral Hospital. The exercise, which started at 9:30 PM and concluded at 1:30 AM, aimed to evaluate the quality of service delivery at the hospital. A specific focus of the visit was to investigate allegations that some staff members were neglecting their night duty responsibilities.
Key issues identified during the spot check
The
inspection uncovered several challenges that hindered optimal service delivery
at the hospital. Among the notable issues were:
1.
Sitting toilets (as opposed to squatting) were designed for the facility. Some
were found dysfunctional. This poses sanitation and hygiene challenges,
especially for mothers.
2.
Some members of staff (nurses and midwives) were accused of being rude and
inconsiderate.
3.
Delayed salary payments for some hospital employees.
4. A
malfunctioning CT scan machine that had been out of service for several months.
5.
Maternity services for private patients were deemed very expensive and thus
unattractive. The private wards needed some renovations.
6.
Only about 45% of the approved staffing positions are filled. Thus, the general
workload was deemed to be very high.
7.
Paid for services were not effectively communicated to clients as there was no
clear approved price list of the same.
8.
One of the lifts was dysfunctional. The general maintenance budget was
considered to be very high and falling under "unfunded priority"
On a
positive note, staff for night duty were
found busy working, contrary to the allegations that staff did not attend to
the night duty.
Follow-up meeting with hospital management
On
Friday, 17th January 2025, the IG team, led by Mr. Michael Tumukurate, convened
a meeting with the hospital's management team, led by Dr. Byaruhanga Emmanuel,
the Executive Director. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the
findings from the spot check and agree on actionable solutions.
Several
resolutions were reached during the boardroom session, with some requiring
immediate implementation. These included:
1.
Enhancing sanitation and overall cleanliness at the facility.
2.
Training staff in customer care to improve patient satisfaction.
3.
Resolving the non-payment of salaries for affected staff members.
4.
Repairing the hospital’s CT scan machine to restore critical diagnostic
services.
Commitment to Improvement
Dr.
Byaruhanga and his team expressed gratitude to the IG team for their
intervention, noting that the spot check served as a timely reminder of their
duty to provide round-the-clock services to patients. “This exercise has motivated
us to refocus on our mandate and address the identified gaps,” Dr. Byaruhanga
remarked.
The
IG team, in turn, reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability and
high-quality service delivery in public institutions. Mr. Tumukurate emphasized
that similar unannounced inspections would be conducted in the future to
monitor progress and address any emerging issues.
A Call to Action
The
collaborative spirit demonstrated during the meeting underscores the importance
of accountability and proactive problem-solving in public service. As Kawempe
Referral Hospital embarks on implementing the agreed resolutions, stakeholders
are optimistic that the facility will deliver improved healthcare services to
the community.
The
IG team’s initiative is a testament to its dedication to fostering transparency
and ensuring that public institutions prioritize the needs of the people they
serve.