Patients at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital and Itojo General Hospital in Ntungamo District are being forced to seek costly diagnostic services from private health facilities after X-ray machines at both hospitals broke down, disrupting essential healthcare services.
The equipment failures were uncovered during surprise inspections by the Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, over the weekend. Dr. Baryomunsi made an impromptu visit to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital late Saturday night, where he found that the hospital’s X-ray machine had been out of service for several months.
As a result, patients requiring X-ray services are referred to Rugarama Hospital, a private health facility, where they pay Shs20,000 per examination. The minister also found that one of the hospital’s oxygen plants had been non-functional for several months, affecting the delivery of critical care services. Following the inspection, he directed officials from the Ministry of Health to urgently repair the faulty equipment.
Dr. Baryomunsi also noted that Kabale Regional Referral Hospital is struggling with ageing infrastructure and inadequate space. However, he commended the hospital management, saying the facility was clean, health workers were present on duty, and patients appeared satisfied with the care they were receiving despite the challenges.
On Sunday evening, the minister conducted another unannounced inspection at Itojo General Hospital in Ntungamo District, where he found similar challenges. The hospital’s X-ray machine is also out of service, and the facility does not have a CT scanner. Dr. Kenneth Ayebazibwe, the Medical Officer at Itojo Hospital, said patients requiring X-ray services are referred to private clinics in Ntungamo Town, where they pay about Shs20,000.
He explained that the hospital’s X-ray machine, installed in the 1960s, has been non-functional for more than a decade. Dr. Ayebazibwe added that patients requiring CT scan services are referred to private facilities in Mbarara City at a cost of about Shs250,000 per scan. He also appealed to the government to install an oxygen plant, noting that the hospital attends to more than 600 patients every month.
Patients say the breakdown of essential diagnostic equipment has imposed an additional financial burden on already vulnerable families. Joventa Tumushabe, who was caring for her admitted husband at Itojo Hospital, said patients are forced to travel several kilometres to Ntungamo Town for X-ray services, adding that the Shs20,000 charged by private facilities is beyond the reach of many families.
Another patient, Gordon Akandwanaho, said he was instructed to obtain an X-ray from Ntungamo Town before undergoing surgery because the hospital’s machine was not working. He said he had to walk to town despite being in severe pain to access the service. Akandwanaho added that many patients are also referred to Mbarara City for CT scans and appealed to the government to repair the X-ray machine and install a CT scanner at Itojo Hospital.
Responding to the concerns, Dr. Baryomunsi acknowledged the urgent need to repair the X-ray machine and establish an oxygen plant and CT scan services at Itojo Hospital. He said he would prepare a report highlighting the hospital’s priority needs and present it to the relevant government authorities to mobilise resources for the required interventions. Despite the equipment shortages, the minister praised the quality of healthcare services at Itojo Hospital, commending staff for their dedication and professionalism-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
