Private health training institutions decry shortage of tutors

The Uganda Private Health Training Institutions Association (UPHTIA) has called  for increased collaboration with the government to enhance their capacity to provide quality training for health practitioners in line with the national development goal of human capital development.

During their annual general meeting held at Mbale School of Nursing and Midwifery in Mbale City, members appealed for student loans for those attending private institutions, sponsorship for teachers to attain tutorship qualifications, and subsidies on training equipment.

They highlighted the critical shortage of tutors, which significantly hampers their ability to supplement the government's efforts in providing quality medical training to citizens.

“There is a loan scheme system for Ugandan students which seems to be selective in that it is given to universities and other institutions, we would like this kind of thing extended to us as a group. Secondly, we have a huge number of teachers who need tutorship and we are already stranded with funding, it will be nice if the government can come forward and admit them on government sponsorship," UPHTIA chairperson,Joseph Abala Mundu said.

Florence Babyale Waiswa the Director of Wakiso Comprehensive Institute of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery who doubles as vice chairperson of UPHTIA appealed for a review of practicum fees levied on students pursuing practical experience in public health facilities.

“When you are taking students to a government hospital as required by policy we pay shs 120,000 on top of three shifts' daily transport expenses,” Babyale said.

The members emphasized that these measures are crucial for building a robust health workforce to meet the nation's healthcare needs.

Established in 2009, UPHTIA focuses on quality through enhancing institutional governance among member institutions .

“This association advocates for quality health training in the private sector because many times quack nurses and doctors have been linked to the private training institutes," said Stephen Okello the proprietor of Mbale School of Nursing.

Uganda has over 173 Private Health training institutions training nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals according to UPHTIA General Secretary Andrew Mugisha.

Steven Tugume a pioneer member of UPHTIA highlighted the objective of association saying "the purpose of having this association was to have one voice and at the same time to have the government easily reach the proprietors for whatever policy they would want to pass on to the practitioners."