Soroti Hospital Grapples with Severe Staff Shortage, Overwhelmed Facilities

Lawmakers on the parliamentary health committee expressed shock during a recent visit to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, discovering that the facility is severely understaffed, serving the entire Teso Sub-region with a population exceeding 2.4 million.

Currently, the hospital operates with just 283 staff members, falling drastically short of the 1,231 needed, creating a deficit of 948 personnel. This shortage means a single nurse is often responsible for a 50-bed wing.

Despite improvements in medicine management, the hospital’s infrastructure, including the outpatient department, casualty, surgical ward, and mortuary, is overwhelmed and too small for the patient volume. The parliamentary committee chairperson, Dr. Julius Mande Rude, highlighted the urgent need for expanded facilities, particularly the OPD.

Concerns were also raised about the hospital’s high utility bills, exceeding Shs200 million annually, with a suggestion to adopt cost-saving measures like solar power used by other referral hospitals. Furthermore, the committee noted that lower health facilities often refer cases unnecessarily to Soroti, exacerbating the workload.

Soroti City East MP Moses Attan questioned the stalled recruitment process, despite parliamentary approval for more staff. He also emphasized the need for a dedicated power line for the hospital, citing safety issues in the theatre due to electrical faults, a facility that other regional referral centers already possess.

Hospital Director Dr. Benedicto Watmon confirmed that the facility’s 278 beds are accommodating over 500 patients. Patients and their relatives also spoke of long waiting times and the necessity to purchase medication from external pharmacies due to stock-outs.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/soroti-hospital-needs-over-900-workers-5594144