By Jumah Kakomo
The government of Uganda has announced that it has embarked on a digitalization journey in the health sector, an initiative that aims to tackle the long-standing issue of absenteeism among health workers.
Many public health workers have been absent from work, citing reasons such as low pay, poor working conditions, and lack of resources which has led to the growth of concerns over the shortage of medical personnel in public health despite the ministry of health’s efforts to increase access to specialized healthcare.
The minister of health, Dr. Jane Ruth Acheng attributes public health workers absenteeism at work to multiple employment, saying digitalization of the health sector will help monitor and track the attendance of health workers, making it easier to identify and address cases of absenteeism. This move is expected to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare service delivery in the country.
According to Dr. Ruth Achieng, the government’s efforts to digitalize the health sector are also expected to address other challenges facing the sector, such as inefficient service provision and inadequate health tools. “By leveraging technology, the government hopes to create a more transparent and accountable healthcare system,” Acheng said.
She asserts that the frequent absence of health workers from their duty stations poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of patients.”The absence of health workers can have devastating consequences,” Acheng said. “Patients may be left unattended, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. In some cases, patients may even die due to the lack of medical attention.”
Acheng emphasized that absenteeism among health workers is not only a matter of concern for patients but also for the healthcare system as a whole. “When health workers are absent, the workload increases for those who are present, leading to burnout and decreased morale,” Acheng explained.
She also highlighted the economic implications of absenteeism among health workers. “The absence of health workers can lead to increased healthcare costs, as patients may require longer hospital stays or more expensive treatments due to delayed diagnosis and treatment,” Acheng said.
To address the issue of absenteeism among health workers, Acheng called for increased accountability and monitoring. “Health workers should be held accountable for their attendance and performance,” Acheng said. “The government and healthcare administrators should also ensure that health workers have a safe and supportive work environment, with adequate resources and staffing.”
Dr. Acheng urged public health workers to take their responsibilities seriously and be available to attend to their duties. She also cautioned that disciplinary action would be taken against those found to be absent without valid reasons.
The minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Acheng made the revelation on Thursday 28th, November, 2024, during her presentation of the Ministry of Health Progress in Implementation of the Ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party Manifesto 2021-2026 at Kampala.
