By Our Reporter
Lawmakers have raised alarm over reports of exorbitant charges at the private section of Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital.
Hon. Francis Mwijukye, the representative for Buhweju County, highlighted the issue, condemning the high costs imposed on expectant mothers for consultation, prenatal care, and childbirth.
“Yesterday, I visited Mulago Specialized Hospital to check on a woman who had undergone a cesarean section and was billed Shs2 million. She is a primary school teacher who couldn’t afford the fees, and I wonder how many other women are in the same predicament,” Mwijukye stated.
He made these remarks while debating a motion urging the government to adopt resolutions from the Second Women Parliament during a plenary session on Wednesday, 12 March 2025. Mwijukye criticized the hospital for levying Shs890,000 for anesthesia, Shs800,000 for antenatal care, and Shs800,000 for normal deliveries, arguing that such costs are unreasonable for a government-funded facility.
“I question how these policies were formulated in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. We cannot claim to champion women’s welfare when, in reality, implementation remains a mere formality,” he remarked.
Legislators emphasized the necessity for the Ministry of Health to regulate the management of private wings in public hospitals, noting that medical personnel seem to be neglecting free healthcare services that cater to the majority.
“The government must intervene and address the situation in the public section of the hospital, where treatment is free but patients have to endure waiting periods of up to six months or even a year,” Mwijukye added.
Hon. Stephen Kangwagye, MP for Bukanga County, criticized the dual-pricing policy in public hospitals, arguing that it undermines service provision in the free section.
“The majority of mothers in our constituencies cannot afford the private wing. Many are forced to rest in hospital corridors, waiting long hours for attention. We need to ensure doctors dedicate equal effort to both sections,” Kangwagye stated.
The Minister of Information, Communication, Technology, and National Guidance, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi, condemned what he termed the commercialization of public hospitals, stressing that the government’s intent in introducing private sections was never to turn them into profit-making ventures.
“The Ministry of Health should reassess this policy and lower the fees charged in public hospitals. The objective was to provide quicker services to those who could afford them, not to impose excessive costs like Shs2 million for a cesarean section,” Baryomunsi stated.
The Minister of State for Health (General Duties), Hon. Anita Kawooya, vowed to investigate the matter, affirming, “It is a government policy, but it is unacceptable to demand Shs2 million from a patient, even in a private wing.”
The motion, which called for Parliament to urge the government to consider the recommendations of the Second Women Parliament, was tabled by Lira District Woman MP, Hon. Linda Auma, and was successfully adopted with its 30 resolutions.
The resolutions included calls for the government to guarantee uninterrupted education for pregnant schoolgirls, a 20% increase in the education budget to provide gender-sensitive facilities in learning institutions, stricter enforcement of policies against gender-based violence, and enhanced participation of women in leadership.
Speaker Anita Among instructed the responsible ministries to submit progress reports on these resolutions within three months.
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