Masindi leaders pin health workers for extortion

By Innocent Atuganyira

Masindi: Medics and other workers at Masindi district general hospital have been pinned for extortion and frustrating service delivery at the medical facility.

Extortion and bribery are common vices at Bwijanga Health Centre IV and Masindi District General Hospital, which are reportedly to have lasted for over 10 years.

Patients and caretakers reportedly pay an amount ranging from 150,000 to 400,000 shillings in the theater for an operation; this depends on one’s wallet and negotiation power.

Without disclosing the amount of money she paid, Pamela Nyakato, the Masindi district secretary for finance, planning, and administration, said health workers at Masindi general hospital refused to work on her patient until she paid money.

‘’They told me, put aside your politics and do what others are doing, implying I should first pay money for my relative to be treated. You people, we have done what it takes. Why can’t we have humanity and serve our community?” she narrated.

Nyakato mentioned Bwijanga Health Centre IV and Masindi General Hospital as bribery and extortion spots in the district health centers. ‘’Following numerous interventions at Bwijanga Health Center IV, such cases have reduced, but it’s the worst at Masindi General Hospital,’’ she decried.

She was speaking on Wednesday during the review meeting on the poor performance of the district health department held at the District Health Officer’s (DHO’s) Resource Center.

Dr. Vincent Katusiime, the acting medical superintendent at Masindi district general hospital, said he has received reports about extortion and bribery at the health facility, but they haven’t netted any suspect.

According to Katusiime, shortages of drugs and other supplies are major factors fueling bribery and extortion, but he also stresses that some health workers have the habit of extorting money from patients even when the drugs and supplies are available.

The medical superintendent asserted that he has for several times warned the health workers against extortion and bribery but has not yielded fruit. He therefore appealed to the victims to report such cases in time to aid in investigations.

Katusiime also asked other leaders, including politicians, security, and civil servants, to join the fight against extortion at the health facility. ‘’I think it’s high time we work collectively and arrest the health workers who are extortion patients,’’ he said.

Cosmas Byaruhanga, the Masindi District LCV Chairperson, disclosed that they have information on how health workers, mostly in the theater, share the money they have extorted from patients.

‘’It’s unique for their case; everyone who works at the theater, including the cleaner, knows how they share the money extorted from patients; we have that information,’’’ he stated.

He stressed that people who seek medical services at government facilities can’t afford private health centers, so extortion and bribery should not be practiced.

Byaruhanga also advised medics to always tell patients to buy drugs in private facilities in case there is a shortage instead of getting money from them to buy drugs and other supplies.

This wasn’t the first meeting where leaders complained about extortion; residents have complained about the same vice a number of times, mostly during barazas.

Recent warning

Last year, during the commemoration of the belated Independence Day celebrations for Masindi district, Emmy Ngabirano, the Resident District Commissioner for Masindi, warned the health workers in the district against extortion and bribery.

Ngabirano spotted Bwijanga Health Centre IV extorting money from pregnant mothers who wanted to deliver.

He therefore gave the health workers an ultimatum of two weeks to iron out all the messes they have at the health center.

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