Health workers at Masafu General Hospital in Busia District have been cautioned against patient neglect, extortion and absenteeism following growing complaints from residents about the conduct of some staff at the facility.
The warning was issued by Busia Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Hajira Namagogwe, during an engagement with district leaders and health workers at the Masafu Town Council playground.
Namagogwe said the district had received several complaints from residents accusing some health workers of demanding money for services and being absent from duty, a conduct she said contravenes medical ethics.
She said the district would not tolerate such practices, stressing that health is one of the country’s most critical sectors and that health workers have a responsibility to provide patients with the services they need.
The Masafu General Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr Fred Duku, acknowledged that cases of extortion had been reported at the facility, saying management was taking steps to stamp out the practice.
Duku urged residents to report cases of extortion using the contacts displayed on the walls in different wards at the hospital, saying management was ready to act on the complaints.
The hospital is also grappling with a shortage of anti-malarial drugs, which Duku said had increased pressure on the facility amid a high number of malaria cases.
But local leaders say extortion remains a major concern at the hospital. Fred Bwire, the Sikuda Sub-county councillor, raised concern over what he described as extremely high charges for keeping bodies in the mortuary, arguing that residents should not be charged for a service that is supposed to be free.
James Ojambo, the Busia District Secretary for Village Health Teams (VHTs), said complaints about poor service at the hospital had discouraged residents and affected the work of VHTs. Ojambo said some VHTs had also stopped carrying out their duties after feeling abandoned and unsupported, warning that this could undermine community health interventions.
Residents also say medicine shortages have made access to treatment more difficult. Jackson Makokha, a resident, said patients are often forced to buy medicines elsewhere when they visit the hospital because the required drugs are unavailable.
The concerns have put renewed focus on accountability, staffing and the availability of essential medicines at Masafu General Hospital as district authorities seek to improve the quality of healthcare services at the facility-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
