The Leader of the Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, has called for a special parliamentary inquiry into the operations of the National Medical Stores (NMS).
The call follows numerous complaints from healthcare facilities across the country regarding drug shortages.
Mpuuga believes that the inquiry should specifically examine the conduct of the Ministry of Finance, National Medical Stores, and their associates.
Speaking at a press conference held at Kalungu Health Centre, Mpuuga, who is currently on an oversight tour in greater Masaka following similar tours in other parts of the country, highlighted the ongoing public debate about drug shortages in government-owned health centres.
Referring to the National Medical Stores' recent statement, Mpuuga noted that it did not contradict or challenge their initial findings, which have already been made public.
These findings were based on feedback from health workers, patients, and local government leaders and consistently indicated drug stock outs and delayed deliveries in government health centers.
Moreover, Mpuuga revealed that his team is aware that many health facilities missed four quarters of supplies in the previous fiscal year (2022/2023).
The Leader of the Opposition expressed grave concern over this issue, emphasising that it raises serious questions about the prolonged lack of essential medicines and supplies in healthcare facilities.
He highlighted the detrimental impact this has on mothers in need of mama kits, patients suffering from malaria, and individuals requiring basic drugs.
Additionally, Mpuuga underscored the dire consequences of the unavailability of gloves in facilities for eight months.
As a result, Mpuuga stressed the urgency of parliamentary investigation to determine the extent of culpability in what he describes as criminal negligence by the Ministry of Finance and NMS.
Meanwhile, Judith Nakato Nanseera, the In charge of the health facility, reported that they only have a Tuktuk for an ambulance, which was donated by a rotarian.
" In the last two months we received Tuktuk and we have it and I case there is need to referral it is what we use. The big we are facing with it is the issue of fuel,"she said.
The assistant District Health Officer, Musa Dhabuliwo, stated that the district is using a van that lacks basic ambulance equipment and was donated by the Defence Minister, Vincent Ssempijja.
Under the circumstances, health workers ask patients to fund their transport to referral centres.
