Kampala, Uganda | Lawmakers have called on the Ministry of Health to present a comprehensive strategy for digitising Uganda’s public health system, warning that ongoing proposals risk being disjointed and ineffective without a coordinated national plan.
During today’s parliamentary session, Paul Omara (Otuke County MP) questioned the rationale behind the push for digital systems, noting that multiple sectors had proposed digitisation but Parliament remained unaware of any overarching strategy guiding these initiatives.
He highlighted that the country needed a clear plan on how digital systems would address challenges such as the mismanagement and theft of drugs.
Omara also criticised the piecemeal approach, noting that some ministries procure their own digital systems independently, which could create inefficiencies and hinder proper integration within government.
Vice Chairperson of the Budget Committee, Achia Remigio, echoed the concerns, stressing that Parliament needed clarity on the rollout plan before funds are approved.
He pointed out that digitisation was not only about installing wires but also about establishing proper networks, and asked whether the rollout would cover the entire country or only selected regional hospitals, referring to the UGX 32.5 billion allocated for hospital management systems.
Some MPs, including Sylvia Nayebare (Gomba Woman MP), expressed support for the initiative, arguing that digitising health systems would improve transparency in drug usage and patient care.
She emphasised that having a proper database would enable health authorities to track disease incidence, vaccination coverage, and patient needs more effectively.
However, challenges were also raised, Ruyonga noted that health centres along Uganda’s borders serve large numbers of patients from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and questioned how the digitisation of hospitals would accommodate cross-border patients, particularly regarding drug consumption.
The debate concluded with Achia insisting that the Ministry of Health present a clear national health sector digitisation strategy before Parliament considers approval of the UGX 32.5 billion funding.
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