Annual Report of Uganda National Association of
Private Hospitals (UNAPH), 2016
Uganda National Association of Private
Hospitals (UNAPH) was
formed and incorporated in December 2006 as a trade association representing
private hospital and private health clinics interests in Uganda. Prior to its
inception, six founding directors – three of which were medical doctors, three
other representing different organizations including Uganda Rural Health
Association (URHA), one representing private health consumers and the other a
consultant –met to discuss issues and gaps affecting the independent
private health subsector or rather the Private-for-Profit (PFP) health
subsector in Uganda, which led to the formation of a national private sector
body representing private hospitals and private health clinics in Uganda - Uganda National Association of Private
Hospitals (UNAPH).
Between
2006 and 2010, UNAPH provided a platform for national action when the need
arose, but had no employed staff and no formal office facilities. During this
period the Association had to be effective in representing this specific
sector, but with little attention being paid to the Association by outside
agencies.
Following
the recommendation of a task committee in 2010 to enhance its national
presence, UNAPH established a Liaison Office with Medimark Uganda Limited. The
staff consisted of the Executive Director, a program coordinator and a
secretary, with most operations initially accommodated in the Executive
Director’s private clinic. Over the recent years the workload of the
Association increased exponentially resulting in a need for larger accommodation.
The
Association has tried to unify the independent private hospital sector and,
with a mean committed leadership and loyal, fairly competent staff, dedicated
to transform a loose knit fragmented group of independent private health
facilities into a respected, influential and high-profile private health sector
association.
Throughout
all our existence, criticism came from a few stakeholders about the use of the
word “Hospitals” when most of our members were medical clinics ranging from
Health Centre I – Health center III but this was foreseen and emphasized in
UNAPH’s Articles of Association whereby to make the organization more
representative, the word “Hospitals” meant private hospitals, independent
private health clinics, private medical laboratories, or any private health
facility rather than only hospitals by any current grading or accreditation
standard. And besides, this is an international model for private health sector
management.
Recently,
UNAPH has restructured and established a Private Hospitals Council (PHC),
presenting a unique avenue for private hospitals representation to have direct
input into various private health policy developments and programs. Previously,
with only the hospitals being members of UNAPH, hospitals had only a vicarious
link with the national body. PHC will help engage effectively with the Ministry
of Health (MOH), Medical Councils and Departments on issues of relevance to our
members and maintain ongoing, constructive dialogue.
Following
this structural reorganization, we have taken a sharper focus on being ‘the’
national voice for independent private hospitals and medical clinics, as well
as in driving improvements in private healthcare. Through all Ugandan private
sector infights, competition, duplication, distortion and marginalization, the
association has managed to thrive. Due to the Association’s policy contribution
and achievements, membership is slowly increasing.
At
no other stage in its 10-year history has UNAPH been more active or more
committed in representing private hospitals. Now more than ever, it is
essential private hospitals continue to speak with one voice. While the
achievements of UNAPH have been substantial but less recognized, the challenges
ahead for the private health sector are great and the political landscape is
ever-changing.
It
is our profound desire to see the Association’s ability to lobby, advocate,
liaise and effectively lead private hospitals further bolstered, taking
critical issues and concerns to key decision-makers.
UNAPH’s
Aims are:
•
To represent, promote and protect the interests of private hospitals and
clinics, their owners and operators, and to proactively interact with members,
to ensure private health care continues to be dynamic in meeting the
everchanging needs of the Ugandan community.
•
To champion the cause of independent private hospitals in delivering the very
best in hospital care to patients.
•
To ensure that Ugandans are empowered with personal choice and rapid access to
affordable hospital care of the highest quality.
•
To strive in achieving acceptance by government, departments and partners of a
comprehensive role for PFP private hospitals in their desire to provide a full
range of health care services and their commitment to adequate self-regulation
and review - thus ensuring the highest standards in quality care.
•
To adopt all measures necessary to emphasize the rightful place of private
hospitals in Uganda’s health care system.
To
achieve these aims, UNAPH will:
•
Initiate, foster and maintain a consultative, cooperative and communicative
approach to dealing with governments, partners, stakeholders, health-related
organizations, media, community groups and the public.
•
Act as the coordinating and lobbying body for independent private hospitals and
private medical clinics in Uganda.
•
Encourage and facilitate united positions among member and non-member private
hospitals, as well as all other relevant bodies, to achieve consensus in the
policies and issues advanced.
•
Promote and recognize the highest professional and ethical standards, health
service delivery achievements and innovative medical and non-medical treatments
for the betterment of patient and community wellbeing.
•
Stimulate greater awareness of independent private hospital excellence through
improved communication between hospitals and the Uganda community.
Standards
UNAPH
has, since its inception in 2006, been integral to the achievement and
maintenance of the highest standards of patient care within private hospitals.
In 2011, through its various committees, UNAPH initiated the accreditation
program, private health patient safety guidelines, private health patient
charter to provide input to the establishment and review of the standards
drafted by the MOH medical councils.
I
am indebted to the members of the Executive and Board of Directors for their
support and selfless dedication. I am sure that the coming years will be both
demanding and challenging for the Association and its members. Working together
we can ensure that private hospitals continue to play an important role in
Uganda’s healthcare system.
Dr.
Denis Kimalyo
Executive Director
Comments
Post a Comment