Several patients are being denied health services at Buhehe health center III in Busia district in eastern Uganda due to lack of national identity cards, according to URN.
Dr Florence Mugala, the Buhehe health center III in-charge explains that they turn away patients without national identity cards because the Health Management System (HMS) requires health workers to capture the national identification number (NIN) of patients visiting the health facility.
Mugala said from February this year, all patients seeking medical services must present their national ID or an introductory letter from their area Local Council chairperson indicating the status of their citizenship.
Robert Muchondi, who had escorted his wife to the facility for antenatal services on Tuesday this week, says his wife couldn’t be attended to due to lack of a national ID. Muchondi explains that he pleaded with the health workers to use his NIN to attend to his wife in vain.
Benard Odongo Achwada, the Ndoli village chairperson, says several residents who lost their national IDs are now stuck since nearly all government services were suspended following the coronavirus pandemic outbreak. He wants the government to introduce another system as opposed to using national IDs that most people don’t have.
Parliament recently called for a review in the issuance and replacement of national IDs following many complaints of bribery, delays and incompetence by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) the body mandated to register births and deaths in the country.
John Francis Okumu, another resident calls for government intervention, saying they are suffering yet they don’t have money to access treatment in private health facilities. Hellen Auma, one of those who were turned away told our reporter at the facility she has severely been turned away due to lack of a national ID.
Auma said that she is feeling pain in the stomach, headache and body weakness but doesn’t have money to go to a private health facility for treatment. Charles Wanyama, the Buhehe sub county LC III chairperson condemned the decision to turn away patients, saying there is need for thorough sensitisation.
