The right to health in Uganda : a study of government Visa A Vis non-government health service providers focusing on Mulago and Rubaga Hospitals (1986-2001)

Abstract

The study is about the Right to Health in Uganda with a comparison between Government and Non Government hospitals from 1986-2001. Mulago and Rubaga hospitals representing Government and NGOs hospitals were selected as case studies by random sampling. The main goal of the study was to assess the extent to which the right to health is being implemented and protected in Uganda. This was done by carrying out a comprehensive library research for literature review and administering questionnaires for primary data. 105 questionnaires were administered where 44 were directed to patients. 20 to doctor. 21 to nurses. 5 to administrators and 15 to general people. It was found out that the right to health has not been fully promoted and protected in Uganda as required by the international law. There is lack of enough health facilities to match the increasing population and there are no specific legislative measures in place to ensure full realization of this right. As regards the NGOs hospitals, patients enjoyed medical services and medical attention rendered to them but these were mainly in private wards. Services and attention given to those in private wards are much far better than those given to the patients in general wards. It was therefore not surprising to come out with a big percentage of cases of discrimination in NGOs hospitals than in Government hospitals. This does not however rule out the fact that Government hospitals also have weaknesses. They lack enough medical personnel due to government ban on recruitment of medical workers because of Structural Adjustment Programme, low salaries and poor distribution of the few available personnel and corruption. Following the above findings, a number of recommendations were made and