C-Care Uganda Symposium Makes Case for Affordable Treatment Across the Country

Kampala, C-Care Uganda celebrated 30 years of service with a symposium focused on enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality across the nation. Key speakers urged the development of super-specialized medical services within Uganda to prevent patients from undertaking expensive trips abroad for treatment.

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Every year, hundreds of patients travel from East Africa to seek medical treatment abroad, not by choice but by circumstances. Today, that is the story we want to change.

"Every year, hundreds of patients travel from East Africa to seek medical treatment abroad, not by choice but by circumstances. Today, that is the story we want to change," stated Dr. Kevin Moracha, C-Care's director of medical services. Azhar Sundhoo, C-Care CEO for East Africa, elaborated on the mission to expand affordable, world-class healthcare, noting the current lack of superspecialists as a significant challenge. C-Care is actively recruiting these specialists and investing in training its own doctors.

To further reduce costs associated with travel for treatment, C-Care's new hospital in Gulu is set to enhance its services. The hospital aims to become the first regional facility in Uganda to receive international accreditation from COHSASA (Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa) by the end of the year. COHSASA is the sole internationally recognized quality improvement and healthcare accreditation body operating in Sub-Saharan Africa, evaluating facilities based on ISQua-endorsed standards.

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Our aim is to bring world-class quality health care to C-Care. One of the challenges in the country is the lack of superspecialists. We have gone out to find super specialists to fill the gap and also sent our doctors for super specialist training.

Dr. Rosemary Byanyima, Director of Mulago Hospital, who was the keynote speaker, emphasized the importance of embracing technological advancements. She highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence, particularly in diagnostics and radiology, and the benefits of telemedicine and integrated electronic systems for managing logistics. Dr. Byanyima encouraged stakeholders to pursue innovation for clinical excellence and thanked C-Care for sharing knowledge and joining leading institutions like the Heart and Cancer Institutes.

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There are good things happening in Uganda, from oil to agriculture and we believe this growth will create even more opportunities for healthcare. Let us continue doing the right thing because the future is bright.

CEO Azhar Sundhoo expressed optimism about Uganda's growth in sectors like oil and agriculture, believing these advancements will create more healthcare opportunities. He urged continued dedication to progress, stating, "Let us continue doing the right thing because the future is bright."

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We have to venture into artificial intelligence, especially in diagnostics and radiology; we have to exploit platforms like telemedicine. When we have an integrated electronic system, it also caters to logistics management, which often is a challenge. The digitisation of processes is the way to go.