The in-charge of Budaka Health Centre IV and the District Health Officer (DHO) have been arrested for investigation on the orders of the Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Justine Nameere , following complaints over poor service delivery at the facility.
The arrests came after Hon. Nameere opened the floor to patients and community members during her inspection of the health centre, allowing them to directly raise concerns about the services they receive.
Patients complained of persistent medicine shortages, saying they are often given prescriptions to buy drugs elsewhere. They also raised concerns over the unavailability of ultrasound services and alleged payments for services and supplies they said should be provided free of charge, including claims that some mothers are required to pay for Mama Kits.
Residents further complained that the health centre ambulance frequently has no fuel and alleged that patients who need the ambulance are asked to provide money for fuel.
On the issue of medicine shortages, the health centre in-charge explained that the facility receives a high number of patients and that available medicines are often exhausted due to the heavy demand.
Following the complaints, Hon. Nameere questioned the facility leadership over the service delivery challenges raised by patients.
She then directed security personnel to arrest the health centre in-charge, after she failed to provide satisfactory explanations to the various issues raised. The Minister also ordered the arrest of the DHO to allow investigations into the management and delivery of health services at Budaka Health Centre IV.
The two will be investigated over the complaints raised during the inspection. Hon. Nameere made it clear that should investigations find no wrongdoing on their part, they will be released.
