Oncologists at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) have raised serious concerns about the current significant understaffing issue faced by the institute due to the overwhelming number of cancer patients seeking treatment.
Shocking statistics revealed during a recent visit by UCI board members, led by Chairperson Professor William Bazeyo, showed that an estimated 33,000 Ugandans are diagnosed with cancer each year. However, only about 7,400 of them receive treatment at the Uganda Cancer Institute.
Despite acquiring world-class cancer treatment machines, doctors and experts expressed frustration during the visit due to the severe shortage of staff. Dr. Israel Luutu, a consultant radiologist, and clinical oncologist stressed the urgency of recruiting more personnel.
While three radiographers are currently undergoing training abroad and will return to the country by the end of next year, they will still fall short of the required number by 50 percent.
Dr. Luutu also highlighted the need to train more physicists, as only three out of eight currently at the institute are clinically qualified. Additionally, the institute has only four doctors, whereas they require 15-20 to effectively handle the increasing number of patients.
To address the staffing issue, UCI has initiated a training program with three fellows currently enrolled. However, there is currently no curriculum in place for training physicists, although one is under development.
Professor Isaac Kajja, Deputy Principal of the College of Health Sciences at Makerere University and a member of the board, emphasized the need to expedite the curriculum development process to ensure qualified experts can effectively train others.
The limited workspace is also a concern raised by Dr. Nixon Niyonzima, Head of the Research and Training Directorate, as they require more space to carry out their work efficiently.
Despite these challenges, Professor William Bazeyo, the board chairman, expressed pride in the world-class equipment available at UCI, which has significantly reduced the need for Ugandans to seek cancer treatment abroad.
He highlighted the institute’s autonomy to recruit staff without going through the public service commission and mentioned the board’s focus on human resource development, implementing an approved human resource structure.
Professor Bazeyo urged the SMS construction company, responsible for building the East African Center of Excellence, to expedite the construction work so that the facility can be utilized by Ugandans in the near future.
According to the scientific journal Science Direct, cancer is a major cause of suffering and death worldwide, with 21 million new cancer cases predicted globally each year by 2030, and 75% of the cancer burden falling on the developing world.