Public Hospitals Strain as Patient Numbers Rise Amid Funding Gaps
By The Urban Gazette Health Desk. Kampala, Uganda
Public hospitals across Uganda are facing renewed pressure as patient admissions surge faster than government funding, according to health workers and facility administrators.
At Mulago National Referral Hospital and regional facilities in Mbale and Mbarara, doctors report overcrowded wards, medicine shortages, and staff burnout. The Ministry of Health attributes the strain to population growth and increased demand for services, but frontline workers say budget allocations have not kept pace.
Patients interviewed cited 0long waiting times and out-of-pocket expenses despite public care guarantees.
βPeople come expecting free services, but we lack supplies,β said a nurse at a regional hospital who asked not to be named.
Why It Matters
Access to care: Millions rely on public hospitals as their primary healthcare option.
Health equity: Resource gaps widen inequalities between urban and rural patients.
Policy urgency: Health funding remains a key national development indicator.
What to Watch
π₯ Budget revisions: Will Parliament increase health sector funding in 2026?
π©Ί Health worker action: Watch for possible strikes or protests.
π Disease trends: Rising admissions could signal broader public health challenges.
