Ministry of Health officials have been urged to expedite the process of granting Rubaga Hospital license to operate organ transplant.
Dr. Julius Luyimbaazi, the Executive Director of the Hospital says Rubaga Hospital is prepared to initiate organ transplant as soon as it receives the necessary accreditation from the government.
“Despite having applied for accreditation from the Ministry of Health last year, the hospital is still waiting for approval,”he said.
” The hospital has made all necessary preparations, including training surgeons and setting up facilities for organ transplant but unable to proceed without the government’s approval, “Luyimbaazi stressed.
According to Luyimbaazi the hospital needs this accreditation so as to implement its expansion plans ahead of 125 years anniversary in November.
Dr. Luyimbaazi emphasized that Rubaga Hospital has become the second health facility in Uganda and the fifth in Eastern Africa to be accredited by the Council of Health Care Services Accreditation of South Africa (COHSASA), a globally recognized institute for accrediting health facilities
He argued that this accreditation serves as a confirmation that the hospital’s services and operations adhere to international standards.
Dr Luyimbaazi made this announcement during his speech at the inauguration of the 125th-anniversary celebrations roadmap at Rubaga Hospital Training School today.
Lubaga Hospital established on October 18, 1899, holds the distinction of being the second health facility in Uganda, following Mengo Hospital (February 27, 1897).
State Minister for Health, Hanifa Kawooya Bangirana, asked the hospital to be patient until when the Organ Transplant Council is fully constituted.
The hospital plans to work with Indian and Turkish surgeons to perform the transplant in Uganda. It was expected that the availability of these services in Uganda would reduce the cost of related kidney and other organ transplants.
On 14th August 2023, Rev, Paul Ssemogerere, the Arch Bishop of Kampala commissioned a one billion shillings Dr Rita Moser organ Transplant Centre at Rubaga Hospital. Rubaga became the first privately owned hospital after Mulago National Regional Referral Hospital to have such as facility.
Mulago National Regional Referral Hospital went on to have the first successful kidney transplant in December 2023. The patient and the Kidney donor were discharged in January 2023.
For a hospital like Rubaga to perform organ transplant services, it must be accredited by the Uganda Human Donation and Transplant Council.
The Uganda Human Donation and Transplant Council is provided for under the Uganda Human Organ Donation and Transplant Act 2022 which was assented to by President Museveni on 15th March 2023.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sam Orach, the Executive Secretary of the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau urged the government to increase its contribution to Private Not For Profit Hospitals.
He urged the minister to consider raising the allocation from the current 0.8 per cent to 1.5 per cent, emphasizing that these institutions contribute up to 30 per cent of the country’s health indicators services output.
He also urged the minister of health to expedite the legal processes of the national health insurance and incorporate community health schemes into the same law.
