KAMPALA — The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has said that he has received complaints of patients being forced to buy expensive medicine from private clinics ordering them, to stop.
Tayebwa made the remarks during his impromptu visit at the Mulago Cancer Institute this morning where he directed the leadership of the hospital to investigate their doctors who have private clinics that have expensive cancer medicine.
“I want to send a message to Ugandans who are complaining that I have confirmed today that government has provided all the funding necessary to buy the medicines for cancer for the patients who come here so they should not buy expensive medicine from the private clinics,” Tayebwa said.
The Institute offers; chemotherapy, childhood cancer treatment, adult cancer treatment, cancer screening, cancer surgery, radiotherapy, palliative care, imaging, and cancer information. The UCI diagnoses over 30,000 new cases of cancer in the country every year.
During the tour at the Institute, the deputy speaker said he had been impressed by the ongoing works at the facility and said Parliament would appropriate accordingly to address the funding gaps raised by officials.
Prof William Bazeyo, the UCI board chairperson admitted that money is being charged from patients but only at a VIP wing of the facility.
“We have a VIP [wing] where we charge a minimum fee but it is your choice to go to that wing,” Prof Bazeyo said, noting that, “for every patient that comes to the institute for all their laboratory tests, X-rays, chemotherapy or drugs, are all free,” Prof. Bazeyo said.
He also said that there’s no consultation fee for consultants because they don’t operate as private.
“Ugandans should know that we have free services. At this cancer institute, we received patients from all over the country and those who are saying that they’re charged, they should come out instead of hiding under social media.”
Patients at UCI compete for space with some sleeping in corridors and outside while others share wards despite their sex.Over 80 percent of cancer patients in Uganda die due to late diagnosis.
