Kampala — OVER a half of medical workers posted to upcountry hospitals do not report, hospital superintendents have said.

The superintendents from Fort-Portal, Hoima and Soroti hospitals were appearing before the public accounts committee.

They attributed the problem to inadequate pay, lack of accommodation and remoteness of the areas.

As a consequence, they said, the few staff are over-worked and the patients do not get adequate attention.

They said most of the vacant positions are for doctors, radiographers, pharmacists and specialists.

The superintendents said the vacant posts have remained unfilled despite requests to have them filled.

Hoima referral hospital superintendent Dr. Emanuel Moro told MPs that of the 321 recommended medical staff, 149 posts are not filled.

"We declare vacant posts to the ministry at least annually since recruitment is done once in a year. Often, staff posted to Hoima do not take up the posts. Female nurses say they are no suitable partners upcountry," he said.

Fort Portal Hospital superintendent Dr. Charles Olaro said over 117 positions are still vacant.

Dr. Bernard Odu of Soroti Hospital told MPs that they had 237 of the 330 medical staff required. He added that they had 13 specialists of the 27 required.

"We need your intervention. For example, 60% of the nurses and the rest of the staff rent outside the hospital," he said.

The Auditor General, in a report to Parliament, said: "Understaffing in such key areas that are fundamental for effective and efficient delivery of the required services render the referral system ineffective."

The report stated that in many of the referral hospitals, the existing staffing structures do not address the current needs of the hospital.

"The staff establishments were set up more than 10 years ago but have not been revised to match the increasing demand for medical services."