KAMPALA- Mulago Hospital Official was put on spot to explain how management arrived at the costs of services at the newly constructed Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital (MSWNH).

While appearing in a Morning Breeze show on Next Broadcasting Services (NBS), Enock Kusasira the Public Relations Officer, Mulago Hospital found a hard time to justify why a public hospital should highly charge for services.

Kusasira in response said, “Government has chosen cost-sharing to raise money which shall be used to pay the acquired loan of 900 billion shillings from Islamic Development Bank which was spent on hospital construction and furnishing. He added that the raised money will be used to pay allowances for highly Specialized Consultants, Senior Laboratory Technicians and Hospital maintenance.”

Some of the charges for standard services at MSWNH as approved by cabinet include 50,000shs for Consultation, 890,000shs for Antenantal, 2,500,000shs for fistula Reconstruction, among other charges. Other classified services which include Very Important Persons (VIP), Very Very Important Persons (VVIP) will be offered.

Kusasira however said that patients who cannot afford the fees yet were referred to the facility by the Regional Hospitals will fully be paid for by the government, just like it has been in other Public Hospitals but after vetting by the Permanent hospital Committee Headed by Deputy Director clinical services to find out qualifying persons for a free service.

Denis Juuko, a health activist expressed fears of corruption over the mechanism which will be used to vet the suitable candidates for a free service. He however, commended government for that first class health facility in Uganda.

Joseph Tamale Mrundi, Senior Presidential Advisor on Media faulted government for uncoordinated communication and lack of communication skills and advised government to employ communication experts who can save its picture. He added that the mentioned charges are a clear indication of government detachment from the local population.

Meanwhile, the hospital opened on 17^th, September and will offer free service until 9^th of August this year as an independence gift.

The President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni is expected to commission the facility on either 4^th or 5^th of October this year.  

Social Media Reactions

Rogers Gwanipa expressed fears that the hospital could have been sold to private individuals who aim at making profits.

“I think government built it for corporates only not everyone,” said Robby Bua on his face book page.

Junior Atooki Shedrack said that the facility is more of private and it will not help a common man.