The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has raised concerns over a growing number of individuals masquerading as health workers, putting the lives of unsuspecting patients at risk.
Dr. Herbert Luswata, the UMA President, noted that while this year has seen improvements in health workers’ welfare, including numerous promotions, there has also been an alarming increase in reports of lower-cadre health workers posing as doctors.
Dr. Luswata warned that this illegal practice is especially prevalent in lower-tier health facilities. He cited cases where orthopedic officers, whose role is primarily to provide first aid and outpatient care, have conducted major surgeries in theaters, endangering patients’ lives under the guise of treatment.
Although the UMA has a disciplinary committee to address ethical issues among its members, Dr. Luswata emphasized that the association lacks enforcement powers. Instead, they rely on reporting such cases to the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council or the State House Health Monitoring Unit (HMU), both of which have the authority to take action against medical malpractice.
The HMU has made several arrests this year involving health workers engaged in illegal practices. However, the UMA believes that more robust surveillance is needed to identify and eliminate unqualified practitioners. Dr. Luswata called on authorities to intensify efforts to safeguard the integrity of Uganda’s health system and protect the public.
In his end-of-year message, Dr. Wilberforce Kabweru, Chairperson of the UMA Ethics, Professionalism, and Disciplinary Committee, urged health workers to prioritize ethical conduct in their practice. He highlighted the importance of proper medical documentation, especially the informed consent process, while maintaining patient confidentiality and privacy.
Dr. Kabweru stressed that adherence to these standards is critical in avoiding litigation and other penalties that could arise from professional misconduct.
The UMA continues to advocate for enhanced surveillance and enforcement measures to ensure that only qualified professionals provide healthcare services, thus protecting the public from the dangers posed by quack practitioners.