Mulago National Referral Hospital wants about 10 billion to start its intensive care units (ICU).
This was tabled by the hospital’s acting Executive Director of the hospital, Dr. Rosemary Byanyima, who presented a request to the Health Committee on Thursday, March 21st.
Dr. Byanyima stated that the allocated Shs122 billion for Mulago Hospital is not enough, leading to a budget deficit of Shs200 billion. This shortage affects the proper functioning of Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
She explained that despite having 15 beds in the pediatric ICU and 27 beds in the adult ICU, only a fraction are operational due to staffing and budget constraints. The lack of staff and funds for ICU supplies hampers full functionality.
To address this, Dr. Byanyima proposed an additional Shs10.8 billion for consumables and maintenance and Shs28 billion to fill vacant positions. She also requested Shs15 billion to complete construction at Lower Mulago, which was not included in the 2024/2025 budget.
Members of Parliament suggested reallocating part of the Shs3 billion from the 2023 supplementary budget to complete Lower Mulago instead of allocating funds to other projects.
Concerns were raised about Mulago’s reputation and the need for budgeted activities to enhance its image, particularly in customer service.
There were questions about the relevance of allocating Shs5 billion for vehicles for senior consultants, given their reported time spent in private clinics.
MP Elisa Rutahigwa highlighted concerns about underfunded areas like gratuity and pension, which are crucial for hospital operations and staff welfare.
