Absenteeism and indiscipline among health workers is the leading cause of underperformance in the health sector.
According to the 16th Annual Report of the Health Service Commission that was presented to the Speaker of Parliament Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga on Monday February 8, 2016, cases of neglect of duty and absenteeism were reported in several districts.
“Some districts reported continued instances of absenteeism and neglect of duty by some health workers. They indicated taking measures ranging from minor to several reprimands but there were no reports on actual numbers,” Professor Pius Okong, the Chairperson of the Commission said.
The report also indicates that the majority of the district and regional referral hospitals in 47 districts visited lacked functional committees to implement sanctions and rewards for the health workers.
Masaka district had no committee while committees in the districts of Kaberamaido, Kumi, Ngora, Kyenjojo, Kiruhura, Mubende and Kabale were not properly constituted, the report indicates. The districts of Buikwe, Mukono, Kayunga, Kotido, Kaabong, Abim, Yumbe and Koboko presented no evidence of minutes of the disciplinary and training committee meetings.
The training of health workers in some districts had been mismanaged with medical personnel granted long term training that is not beneficial to the health institutions.
The Commission reported that Yumbe General Hospital had depleted its workforce by sending three of its four doctors for training at the same time.
The Health Service Commission appealed to Parliament to review the policy on recruitment of health workers to enable all districts have access to health workers.
Health workers in some health centers complained of the lack of uniforms which are provided by the Ministry of health.
Prof Okong told the Speaker that many rural districts had still failed to attract and retain specialized critical medical cadres like Public Health nurses, anesthetic officers, midwives and pharmacists in the district and regional referrals due to resource constraints.
In response the Speaker re-echoed the need for the health sector to review the policy on retirement to retain several of the medical experts that are laid off as soon as they clock the mandatory retirement age of 60 years, amidst the scarcity of doctors.
“I have been to several of the villages but the rate of indiscipline among medical workers is too high. Absenteeism is too much and it seems no one is in control. I am also still concerned that many expert doctors are retired,” she added.
The Speaker confirmed that Parliament will consider the report and its recommendations when it resumes after the general elections.
