Masindi General Hospital is operating under severe strain, with rising patient numbers, critical staff shortages, and overstretched maternity services, according to hospital management.
Hospital executive consultant Dr Rogers Musinguzi has revealed the facility is handling an unusually high number of maternal cases while operating with less than half of the required workforce.
Dr Musinguzi said the hospital receives an average of 472 mothers every month for delivery, with a striking 372 of those undergoing caesarean section. He noted the high number of surgical deliveries is putting additional pressure on already limited theater staff, equipment, and medical personnel.
‘Most of our deliveries are now by caesarean section. This is not normal for a general hospital. It reflects both late referrals and complications at the time mothers arrive,’ Dr. Musinguzi said.
The consultant added that Masindi General Hospital is also handling about 900 admissions, a figure he described as overwhelming for the available staff and infrastructure.
According to Dr. Musinguzi, the hospital is operating with only 134 staff members out of the required 343, leaving a gap of more than 200 health workers. He said the shortage is affecting every department, but maternity and emergency services are the most affected.
‘In maternity, the workload is extremely heavy. A midwife is supposed to attend to about two mothers, but here one midwife is attending to up to 12 women at a time. This leads to exhaustion and affects service delivery,’ he said.
Health workers reportedly work long hours without adequate rest, a situation Dr. Musinguzi warned could increase the risk of medical errors and burnout. He further revealed the hospital has gone three years without new recruitment of health workers, worsening the crisis.
‘We have not recruited any staff in three years. This has created a dangerous gap in service delivery,’ he said.
Dr. Musinguzi also highlighted severe shortages in key medical positions. The hospital is supposed to have four consultants, but currently has none. Out of 19 medical officers required, only six are available, with one currently on academic leave, leaving just five active doctors handling a high patient load.
‘At times, one doctor runs the entire hospital for 48 hours. This is not sustainable. It puts both patients and staff at risk,’ Dr. Musinguzi said.
The consultant added that such conditions make it difficult to maintain quality care, especially in emergency and surgical cases.
The hospital is also experiencing a significant shortage of nurses. Dr. Musinguzi said Masindi General Hospital requires at least 46 nurses but currently has only 30. This gap has placed enormous pressure on existing staff, particularly in maternity wards where demand is highest.
‘Healthcare workers are exhausted. They are doing their best, but the numbers are simply overwhelming,’ he said.
The high rate of caesarean sections has also raised concern among health experts, who say it could be linked to late referrals from lower health facilities and complications that are not managed early.
A midwife at the hospital, who requested anonymity, described the situation as ‘extremely difficult,’ saying staff often work beyond their limits.
‘You can be handling several mothers at the same time, some in labor, others in surgery recovery. It is very exhausting,’ the midwife said.
According to hospital management, Masindi General Hospital has not received any significant staffing boost in the past three years despite increasing patient numbers. This has widened the gap between demand and available health workers, especially in critical departments such as surgery, maternity, and emergency care.
Masindi District secretary for social services William Mwambu called for urgent government intervention to address staffing gaps and improve working conditions.
‘We need immediate recruitment to save both mothers and health workers from burnout. The situation is critical,’ Mr. Mwambu said.
Masindi General Hospital serves patients from Masindi, Buliisa, Kiryandongo, and surrounding districts, making it one of the busiest health facilities in the region. However, the growing population and increasing number of referrals have not been matched with a corresponding expansion in staffing and infrastructure.
With only 134 staff out of the required 343 and critical shortages in doctors, nurses, and consultants, the hospital is operating under conditions experts describe as ‘near breaking point.’