By Weswa Ronnie
SIRONKO
The State House Health Monitoring Unit has raided Sironko district to investigate the rampant allegations of extortion of patients by health workers.
The Team led by Julian Nabatanzi, the Deputy Director of State House Health Monitoring Unit revealed this today, 2nd March, 2024 while speaking to the media during monitoring exercise at Buwasa Health centre IV located at Buwasa Sub County in Sironko district.
Nabatanzi says, they have received numerous reports that cases of extortion at Buwasa Health centre IV are rampant.
She says that according to reports, extortions at Buwasa and other health centres like Budadiri health centre IV in Sironko are as follows; mama kit is sold at Shs10,000, mother producing a baby is asked to pay Shs30,000, a baby boy Shs50,000, normal delivery services,Shs200,000 and operations at Shs450,000.
Nabatanzi termed this way of operation as illegal saying that they are investigating and once they get clear evidence, those health workers will be dismissed and arrested because all services at government facilities are for free.
She says that they are still investigating on other allegations like absenteeism, being rough to patients among others.
Paulo Wakoko, the Sironko district acting health officer, admitted the allegations saying that not all health workers are victims but some few.
He says that the district has stopped paying salaries to some health workers who abscond themselves, three were interdicted this week among other punishments.
