KAMPALA, UGANDA — Ibanda District Woman Member of Parliament Hon. Jovrine Kaliisa has challenged government officials to urgently address staffing shortages and gaps in healthcare delivery, warning that ordinary Ugandans continue to face difficulties accessing essential medical services in public health facilities. She raised the concerns yesterday on the floor of Parliament, calling for practical interventions to strengthen the country’s health system.
Kaliisa told Parliament that inadequate staffing remains a major obstacle to effective healthcare delivery, leaving available medical personnel overwhelmed while patients struggle to receive timely attention. She urged the government to prioritise the recruitment and deployment of health workers to ensure that public facilities are adequately staffed to serve the communities that depend on them.
Drawing from community barazas she conducted in Ibanda North Constituency, the legislator highlighted concerns at Ishongororo Health Centre IV, where she said five doctors were recorded in the facility’s staffing records, yet only two were available. She questioned the discrepancy, calling for closer scrutiny of staffing records and the actual availability of medical personnel in health facilities.
The MP warned that the shortage of doctors places an excessive workload on the available personnel, potentially affecting the quality and timeliness of treatment. She emphasised that government must go beyond maintaining staffing records and ensure that health workers are available to provide services to patients when needed.
Kaliisa also raised concerns about the growing reliance on private clinics when public health facilities cannot adequately meet patients’ needs. She argued that this situation places an additional financial burden on households, especially low-income families that depend on government health facilities for affordable treatment.
She further questioned the challenges facing patients who visit public facilities but cannot access the required medical services, including situations where health workers or necessary services are unavailable. Kaliisa called for measures to strengthen public healthcare delivery and reduce the difficulties that force patients to seek alternatives elsewhere.
The Ibanda District Woman MP also expressed concern about the cost of diagnostic services, including scans and other medical investigations. She urged the responsible authorities to examine the availability and affordability of such services, stressing that patients should not face unnecessary barriers when seeking essential medical examinations.
Emphasising the relationship between healthcare and economic development, Kaliisa said good health is fundamental to productivity and improved livelihoods. She warned that when Ugandans cannot access timely and affordable medical care, their ability to work and participate in productive economic activities is affected, leaving vulnerable households at greater risk of financial hardship.
Kaliisa called on the Ministry of Public Service and other relevant government authorities to address staffing gaps, improve the availability of medical equipment and strengthen service delivery across public health facilities. Her submission underscored the need for coordinated government action to ensure that Ugandans, including residents of Ibanda District and surrounding communities, can access reliable, affordable and effective healthcare services.
