Pathologists Raise Alarm Over Acute Staffing Shortage in Uganda

As Uganda joins the global community to mark International Pathology Day, medical experts have sounded the alarm over a critical shortage of pathology professionals in the country. Specialists warn that the severe workforce deficit is significantly undermining the overall quality of clinical care and delaying accurate disease diagnoses.

Dr Robert Lukande, a pathologist at Makerere University and president of the International Academy of Pathology–East African Division, highlighted the glaring disparity in healthcare staffing. According to global statistics, Uganda currently operates with only one pathologist for every 1.5 million citizens. In stark contrast, countries like the United States boast approximately one pathologist for every 16,000 people.

Pathologists serve as essential medical detectives who examine tissues, blood, and bodily fluids to diagnose complex illnesses. With only about 80 registered pathologists in Uganda—encompassing both anatomical specialists and microbiologists—the burden on the existing workforce is immense. Dr Lukande noted that their responsibilities stretch far beyond post-mortem examinations, playing a pivotal role in prenatal screening, forensic testing, paternity verification, and early cancer detection through cytology.

Furthermore, pathology data is crucial for disease prevention and national resource allocation. By analyzing laboratory and mortuary statistics, these professionals help policymakers understand disease burdens and plan effective healthcare interventions. However, factors such as low trainee attraction, poor job satisfaction, and limited visibility continue to hamper the growth of the discipline.

Medical leaders are now calling on the government, policymakers, and funding partners to intervene urgently. Recommendations include increasing university training positions, expanding public healthcare job quotas, and upgrading laboratory and mortuary infrastructure to bridge the wide workforce gap.

Read the original report on Daily Monitor.