The government of Uganda spends Shs 1.548 billion monthly on treating critically injured patients at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
According to Dr. Gideon Kurigamba, the Head of Accidents and Emergency Department, Mulago National Referral Hospital receives an average of 1200-1300 people for admissions on a monthly basis.
Dr. Kurigamba made the revelation during a press conference at Mulago organised by Joseph Beyanga, the Road Safety Advocate in preparation for the 45km Road Safety campaign walk of the seven Hills of Kampala.
According to Beyanga, the campaign is expected to take place on June 17, 2023 starting from Kampala Sheraton Hotel at 6am.
“The #SaferRoadsSaveLives Walk will take place on Saturday, June 17th, 2023, with walkers being flagged off at 6:00am at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel,” Beyanga said.
Dr. Kurigamba noted that 45% of the patients received are trauma patients, which makes Mulago National Referral Hospital the biggest trauma centre in the country.
He said that, out of the daily admissions which is 20 patients, six of them are critically ill, seven moderately ill and other seven mildly ill.
The Doctor revealed that, treating one critically ill patient, costs Uganda Shs 3.6 million a day and if there is necessity of surgical intervention the cost hikes to Shs 13.6 million.
“This therefore translates to a monthly cost of 648 million shillings to care for at least 180 critically injured patients alone at Mulago National Referral Hospital. With estimating half of the number to require surgery, the total cost rises up to 1.548 billion Uganda shillings per month,” he noted.
Kurigamba said that some of the critically ill patients have to stay on admission for two to six months which makes it expensive especially where the patients are unknown.
However, Dr. Edgar Muhumuza, Head of Neurosurgeon said that, beyond the money, Ugandans and the different stakeholders need to look at the fact that accidents cost lives which is the biggest cost.
He added that, 60% of the daily admissions are neuro-surgery patients and of which 90% are boda-boda victims, while the rest are motor vehicle, falls and assaults.
Dr. Rosemary Byanyima, a Senior Radiologist and Executive Director of Mulago Hospital said that, Mulago is brand and that is why all ambulances with accident victims head to Mulago, which calls for more Human resources, finances and more equipment to cater for the increasing daily demands.
Joseph Beyanga applauded Mulago and the Team that continues to provide care, adding that, the awareness about Road Safety will continue to ensure that the statistics reduce.
Beyanga called upon Ugandans to start being responsible and taking care of the pedestrians and themselves.
He added that approximately 50% of the people are pedestrians, 30% move in public vehicles while 20% are privileged to move in private cars. These should be able to take care of road users by driving carefully and following road traffic rules.
He added, “Cars don’t kill people, it’s the people driving the cars that kill people. 71% of the road accident causes is driver behaviour and this can be solved to stop road carnages.”
Beyanga called upon Government and all stake holders not to allow the actions of 20% to affect 50% of the population.
