RDC orders probe into hospital drug theft
A man exits Masaka Regional Referral Hospital recently. The RDC wants claims of drug theft at the hospital investigated and those involved brought to book. Photo by Martins E Ssekweyama.
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The RDC also wants police to investigate officers at the hospital’s police post for suspected connivance with individuals stealing drugs.
Masaka - Masaka Resident District Commissioner Linos Ngompek has directed police to probe circumstances under which government drugs are reportedly being stolen from Masaka Regional Referral Hospital.
Mr Ngopek claimed his office had received reports detailing sufficient drug supplies to the hospital but they are stolen by some individuals, who as he says must be investigated and brought to book.
“My investigation shows the drugs are stolen, repackaged and sold to private health facilities,” he said.
“Findings show that some of the stolen drugs are sold as far as DR Congo,” he added.
Mr Ngompek also ordered for an investigation into police officers stationed at the hospital’s police post suspected to be conniving with individuals stealing the drugs.
Daily Monitor would not get a comment from the hospital administrator, Mr Eliaser Mugisha or the hospital’s director Dr Florence Tugumisirize, since our repeated phone calls to the two officials went unanswered by press time.
Confirmed the investigation
However, the development was confirmed by police, which has assigned John Chrysostom Mwawule, the newly appointed Masaka District Police Commander to head the investigations.
Mr Ngopenk said the theft was a matter that needed to be thoroughly investigated since it touches the core of society.
