Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), a vital healthcare lifeline for southwestern Uganda, is facing an unprecedented staffing crisis, with the facility operating at merely 23% of its required staffing levels, according to Dr. Deus Twesigye, the hospital’s acting director told the Nilepost. This severe shortage has resulted in immense pressure on the available staff, who often work beyond their scheduled hours, inevitably causing delays in service delivery for patients.
In the case of MRRH, the staffing challenges can be attributed to historical structural issues, specifically the hospital’s past affiliation with the Ministry of Education and Sports from 1996 to 2006, which limited its access to staffing privileges enjoyed by facilities under the Ministry of Health.
The hospital, which serves over 13 districts, has been overwhelmed by the growing number of patients seeking medical attention. To cope with the crisis, the facility has relied heavily on medical students practicing at the hospital, a temporary solution that poses significant risks in the event of a university strike, as admitted by Dr. Twesigye.
The government has initiated efforts to address the broader understaffing issue in Uganda’s healthcare system, including the approval of a new staffing structure for the 2023/2024 financial year, aimed at reducing the health worker-to-patient ratio by increasing staffing levels in hospitals and health centers across the country. Furthermore, the government allocated Ugandan Shillings 2.946 trillion to the health sector for the 2024/2025 financial year, representing 4.1% of the national budget, which is expected to support the recruitment of more health workers and fill critical vacant positions.
However, despite these efforts, Dr. Twesigye emphasized the urgent need for immediate action to address the staffing gap, stating, “The staffing gap must be addressed promptly to ensure we provide quality healthcare to our patients and reduce the burden on our hardworking staff.” The Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital remains a critical healthcare provider in southwestern Uganda, and resolving its staffing challenges will be pivotal in improving healthcare outcomes in the region.