By Melanie Aanyu,

Parliament’s Committee on Health has called for more funding to cater for human resource development at regional referral hospitals.

The committee members said that limited numbers of staff at some regional referral hospitals has crippled performance and put a burden on the available staff.

Nicholas Kamara, Kabale Municipality MP said that some referral hospitals like Kawempe and Entebbe have staffing at 33.7 percent and 28 percent respectively compared to some others with high staffing levels of over 95 percent.

Butaleja District Woman MP, Florence Nebanda said that if the challenge of human resource is not addressed in hospitals, the objective of improving health service delivery will not be archived.

She urged the health ministry to provide a good remuneration package to health specialists and consultants to motivate them to stay in the country which will reduce costs and improve service delivery.

Victorious Zawedde, Nakasongola District MP said human resource constraints at regional hospitals in the country have led to overcrowding.

The MPs raised the concerns in a meeting with hospital directors from regional referral hospitals in the country led by the health minister, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng.

The minister acknowledged that regional referral hospitals at border districts receive little support but was quick to add that refugee areas have a lot of support with several health centre IIIs and IV.

Dr Aceng said wages have been increased but will not solve the human resource availability because the ministry’s policy allows for dual employment.