The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among has hailed the private sector for its valuable contribution to supporting public healthcare services in Uganda.
“We want to thank you for complementing government efforts in making sure we have the best health services in the country. As government, our work is to provide all medical facilities to Ugandans but because of so many priorities, we may not be able to provide everything. We want to thank the private sector that has come in to complement what government has done,” Among said.
The speaker was on Wednesday speaking during the official opening of Healingway Hospital in Bugoloobi.
Healingway Hospital which was formerly Paragon Hospital is owned by Fortune Group of Companies owned by the NRM vice chairperson for Eastern Uganda, Capt. Mike Mukula.
Among applauded Mukula for the investment that she said will go a long way in serving people’s needs.
“You could have put this money somewhere else but because you feel for people in Uganda and humanity, you invested it here yet you will not recover in one or five or 10 years. This is giving back to community,” Among said.
The speaker said parliament is ready to support the private sector in all ways possible in a bid to ensure a credible health sector for the country.
“ In terms of incentives, you already have a tax waiver on all medical equipment that you may need to pursue . We have enacted a law on organ transplant and donation. As government we shall support you to ensure we support the health tourism agenda of the country.”
She also said she would push for the passing of the National Health Insurance Bill and the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill before this term ends, noting that these will greatly benefit, not only the private sector but the country at large.
The chairman of Fortune Group of Companies where the hospital falls applauded President Museveni for the enabling environment that he said has allowed private investors into the country.
“Uganda is now peaceful from the North, South, East and West. This country boasts as one of the most stable nations in Africa but all this is because of the vision and strategic approach of the president by ensuring security, without which, there wouldn’t be any investment,” Mukula said.
He said the hospital is in line with the president’s vision of providing African solutions to African problems.
“In the health sector, our initiative is to develop and provide opportunities for young people and talents in the health profession to provide solutions to the challenges we face as a nation by providing an ideal environment and treating our people.”
He said Uganda stands to be a centre of gravity in terms of health care and medical tourism since the country is in the centre of the African continent and in the middle of the tropics.
“This will be the destination for health tourism because Sudanese will come here, Burundians, those from DRC, Rwanda, the northern part of Tanzania and some parts of Kenya. We believe we can do this and it is the reason we put in place this initiative of Healingway.”
The chairperson of the hospital board, Dr.Fred Omaswa said their aim is to tap into health tourism by attracting the numbers flying abroad to India and Kenya for medical reasons.
