On October 12, 2023, the Minister of Health, Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng, addressed Members of Parliament to highlight the ongoing challenge of inadequate power supply in hospitals nationwide.
The key issue, as pointed out by Aceng, is the insufficiency of power to operate critical medical equipment. Despite the recent acquisition of high-capacity oxygen plants for specialized and regional referral hospitals, the current single-phase transformers cannot adequately power this equipment. Single-phase transformers are typically designed for use in domestic and residential settings.
In her appeal, Minister Aceng requested that health facilities be connected to industrial lines, which would require the installation of three-phase transformers to meet the power demands of medical equipment.
The minister emphasized the need for reliable power supply, especially in the wake of potential future challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. All 16 regional referral hospitals have been equipped with 10 intensive care units, and these units also face operational challenges due to the insufficient power supply.
Parliamentarians expressed their concerns about the state of hospitals in dealing with COVID-19 and other healthcare needs. Hon. Henry Kibalya of Bugabula County South voiced the need for an update on the promises made to regional referral hospitals post-COVID-19 surge.
Hon. Judith Acan, the Woman Representative of Nwoya District, pointed out that unstable power supply in hospitals affects their operations. Some hospitals resort to turning off power due to financial constraints, which hampers the use of vital medical equipment.
During the parliamentary session chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa on October 11, 2023, concerns were raised about government agencies diverting funds meant for utilities and underestimating such priorities during budget planning. Tayebwa proposed a solution to deduct money for utilities at the source to ensure timely payment to utility companies.
He directed the Prime Minister to arrange an inter-ministerial meeting involving the Ministers of Health, Energy, and Finance to address the issue of single-phase transformers in hospitals. The outcome of this meeting is expected to be reported to the House within 30 days.
In addition to discussing power supply challenges, some legislators raised questions about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. The Minister of Health, Jane Ruth Aceng, urged legislators to counter misinformation spread by anti-vaxxers and encouraged them to rely on published research for accurate information, particularly with regard to the forthcoming malaria vaccine.
