Health team to fight graft

The ministry has been losing a lot of money in the past due to unaccounted equipment and payments.

A team has been established to weed out corrupt officials and ensure transparency in the Health ministry. The development follows graft scandals that have recently surfaced in various government departments.

The team, which comprises senior medical practitioners, is spearheaded by the ministry Permanent Secretary, Dr Asuman Lukwago. Dr Lukwago said it will fight equipment and drug theft, embezzlement, absenteeism, among other irregularities.

“The team is out to screen the entire health sector to sort ourselves out so that we improve health services delivery,” he said. While inspecting Masaka Referral Hospital last week, Dr Lukwago said there was reported laxity in many health facilities across the country, embezzlement and plundering of equipment to use in private health units.

“We are setting put up automated human resource and drug management information systems to ensure supervision and vigilance,” he said.

Spy system
The permanent secretary said the automated spy system was successful in Mulago Hospital, adding that it would be rolled out to other health facilities.
Dr Lukwago said the ministry has been losing a lot of money in the past in unaccounted equipment and payments.

Dr Florence Tugumisirize, the director of the Masaka hospital, said the facility has two major blood testing machines which are too old and beyond repair. Dr Lukwago said the health ministry would replace the machines.

With regard to the delayed medical staff remuneration Dr. Lukwago attributed it to the ongoing clean-up exercise on the ministry’s pay roll system and said that as soon as it is complete payment of salaries was bound to be very prompt.