Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeons at Mulago Hospital in Kampala have raised concerns about the increasing number of patients referred to the hospital, placing significant strain on the department’s resources and staff. Dr. Abubaker Bugembe, an ENT surgeon at Mulago, highlighted the challenges faced by the department, including a surge in referrals over the past three years, leading to long working hours and an overwhelming patient load.
During a camp for children seeking Adenotonsillar surgery, Dr. Bugembe revealed that the ENT department received 650 referrals from different parts of the country, creating a backlog of cases to be addressed. He emphasized that the department typically operates on five children per week under normal circumstances.
Dr. Fred Bisso, the Senior ENT consultant at Mulago Hospital, called on the government to take proactive measures in training and equipping more ENT specialists. The shortage of specialists contributes to the necessity for patients to travel long distances to access specialized healthcare services. Dr. Bisso stressed the importance of addressing this issue to prevent individuals from resorting to self-medication or seeking assistance from unqualified sources.
The ENT Society in Uganda highlighted that, considering a population of 42 million, there are only 49 ENT medical specialists in the country. The call for increased training and resources aims to ensure better accessibility and quality healthcare services for patients requiring ENT procedures.
