The Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, expressed disappointment that despite the increase in remuneration for health workers, healthcare service delivery has not seen significant improvement.
Addressing attendees at the tenth annual conference on healthcare quality improvement, Aceng noted that the salary enhancement for medical workers, which saw an increase of 100 percent in 2022, was expected to lead to better service delivery.
However, she lamented that this has not been the case, stating, “Unfortunately, salary enhancement is not translating into better health service.”
Senior medical consultants now earn 17.4 million shillings, up from 7.3 million shillings, medical consultants earn 12.7 million shillings, and principal medical officers earn 8 million, up from 4.5 million shillings.
Enrolled nurses now earn 1.3 million, up from 613,000 shillings.
The conference, held at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Entebbe, brought together ministry leadership, regional and district healthcare leaders, academics, researchers, innovators, donors, and civil society under the theme “Innovations to Strengthen Healthcare Systems for Delivery of Quality HealthCare in Resource-Limited Settings.”
During the conference, participants shared experiences with the aim of improving overall quality. The government’s ten-year strategic plan, launched three years ago and ending in 2030, aims to achieve universal healthcare coverage, focusing on access, quality, and affordability.
Aceng emphasized that 2030 should not be seen as a deadline for action but rather a milestone for continuous improvement. She called on medical workers to do more to ensure better outcomes for patients, highlighting the need for accountability and commitment to address resource wastage.
Dr. Jessica Healey from USAID commended Uganda’s progress in healthcare service delivery but expressed concerns about the impact of the recently passed Anti-homosexuality law, which could deter some patients from seeking help due to fear.
Dr. Elizabeth Mgamb, representing the WHO country representative, praised Uganda’s approach to healthcare and called for continued collaboration among all stakeholders to build resilience and ensure continuity of care.
At the conference, the minister launched two tools: the Harmonised Healthcare Facility Assessment Guide and the Guide for Implementation of Quality Reproductive Maternal, Newborn, and Adolescent Health and Nutrition Services. She also thanked development partners, including USAID, JICA, and WHO, for their support.