The government has warned against the diversion of patients from public health facilities to private clinics and called for stronger teamwork, transparency and accountability as the newly appointed Board of Directors of the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) officially begins its term.
Speaking during the inauguration of the new board, the Minister of State for Health (General Duties), Anifa Kawooya, urged board members to work closely with management to sustain the institute's achievements and strengthen Uganda's specialised cardiac care services.
She thanked the outgoing board for its service and challenged the incoming leadership to build on the progress already made instead of allowing internal disagreements to undermine the institute's mandate.
“A good board discusses issues in the boardroom, and what is discussed remains in the boardroom. Practice teamwork. Decisions should be made by consensus because you are all working for the good of our people,” Kawooya said.
The minister said the Uganda Heart Institute should remain the country's centre of excellence for specialised cardiac care, while regional referral hospitals manage less complex cases to bring services closer to patients.
She also expressed concern over reports that some patients are being unnecessarily referred to private health facilities, saying the practice weakens public confidence in government hospitals and delays access to appropriate treatment.
“You go to Mulago and they tell you the doctor is in a private facility, so you have to follow the doctor there. We need commitment to ensure patients receive services where they are supposed to be treated,” she said.
Kawooya warned against keeping patients in private facilities until their conditions become critical before transferring them back to public hospitals, saying the practice compromises patient outcomes and should stop.
She reaffirmed the Ministry of Health's commitment to working with the Uganda Heart Institute to complete ongoing development projects, expand specialised cardiac services to regional referral hospitals and strengthen prevention programmes targeting hypertension, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.
The minister also commended the institute for expanding its capacity to manage complex heart conditions locally, saying government would continue investing in specialised healthcare to reduce overseas referrals and position Uganda as a regional centre for advanced cardiac care.
She urged the new board members to uphold integrity, transparency and collective responsibility while safeguarding the institute's reputation and ensuring Ugandans continue receiving quality heart care through the public health system.
