Annual report of the Ministry of Health / Uganda Protectorate.

  • Uganda Protectorate. Ministry of Health.
Date:
[1961]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Ministry of Health / Uganda Protectorate. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    UGANDA PROTECTORATE MINISTRY OF HEALTH Annual Report For the year from 1st July, 1960 to 30th June, 1961 I.—GENERAL REVIEW The last report for the Ministry of Health was for an 18-month period. This report, for the first time, coincides with the Government financial year. 2. From the financial point of view the year has again been one of considerable difficulty since, as a result of the Economy Commission Report, it was necessary to restrict the money available for recurrent expenditure to the same level as the previous year. Although an additional sum was available to cover normal increases in salaries, the general effect was that many economies had to be made in all grades of staff; some important vacancies could not be filled, and expansion was out of the question. In spite of these financial restrictions, and although there were constant shortages throughout the year, particularly amongst medical officers and nursing sisters, services were maintained at a high level of efficiency. 3. In September 1960, an economic survey was carried out by a Commission appointed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which remained in Uganda for three months. The adviser on health to' this Commission worked closely with the Ministry of Health and made extensive tours all over the country. A draft report was available before the end of the year and senior members of the Ministry’s staff had the opportunity of discussing the draft with members of the Commission. The final report will be a valuable guide to the development of health and curative services in the future. 4. It has become abundantly clear that future development of the Medical Services can only mature if money is available and this in turn is mainly dependent on an increase in the country’s total income. With continued financial stringency and a population increase at the rate of 2\ per cent a year, hospital facilities will fall below the existing level. At the moment there are approximately 15 hospital beds per 1,000 of population. Thus to maintain this ratio, 250 additional beds a year are required to allow for the annual population growth. It follows that unless expenditure on the hospital services is increased at the same 2\ per cent as the population growth, a drop in hospital facilities will be inevitable.