Uganda Heart Institute
| Uganda Heart Institute | |
|---|---|
| Uganda Ministry of Health | |
 | |
  | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Mulago, Kampala, Uganda |
| Coordinates | 00°20′17″N 32°34′31″E / 0.33806°N 32.57528°E |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | Public |
| Type | General and Teaching |
| Affiliated university | Makerere University College of Health Sciences |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | I |
| Beds | 250 (Planned) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1988 |
| Links | |
| Other links | Hospitals in Uganda Medical education in Uganda |
Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) is a specialized, public, tertiary care medical facility owned by the Uganda Ministry of Health. It is a component of Mulago National Referral Hospital, the largest hospital in Uganda, which serves as the teaching hospital of Makerere University College of Health Sciences.[1]
Location
[edit]The Institute is located on Mulago Hill in the northern part of the city of Kampala. It sits within the Mulago Hospital Complex, the teaching hospital of the Makerere University College of Health Sciences. This location is approximately 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) north of the central business district of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda.[2] The coordinates of the Institute are 0°20'17.0"N, 32°34'31.0"E (Latitude:0.338056; Longitude:32.575278).[3]
Overview
[edit]Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) was established as an autonomous body by an Act of Parliament (The Uganda Heart Institute ACT, 2016). The Institute is now a provider of cardiovascular services and the only National Referral Facility for heart diseases in Uganda. Currently, UHI, using a modest investment and an enabling legal framework has trained cardiac specialists and installed a cardiac catheterization laboratory and operating theatre, which have enabled them to conduct heart surgeries and interventions.[4]
Uganda Heart Institute handles over 20,000 patients annually. The Institute started carrying out Open Heart Surgery in 2007 and to-date; over 7000 heart operations have been performed. This in effect means the Uganda Heart Institute can handle over 95 percent of the adult cases and 85 percent of the cases among children in Uganda. This is in line with the National Development Plan II (NDP2) strategy of reducing referrals abroad to less than 5 percent.[4]
In order to improve access to heart care, UHI is developing capacity to operationalize regional centers in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Regional Referral Hospitals. The Institute is partnering with various stakeholders including civil society, to promote health through advocating for a healthy lifestyle. The preventive programs are being addressed through a multi-sectoral approach with the Ministry of Health and other local and international partners. What Uganda Heart Institute needs now is more working space and lager operational budgets to enable it fulfill its mandate.[5]
History
[edit]In 1988, the Uganda Heart Foundation, in collaboration with the Uganda Ministry of Health, Makerere University and Mulago National Referral Hospital, started the Uganda Heart Institute, using space provided on Ward 1C, in the New Mulago Hospital Complex. This resurrected plans to establish a specialized cardiac unit at Mulago, began in 1958, but were killed in 1972, with the expulsion of the Ugandan Asians by dictator Idi Amin.[1] Since 1988, the Institute has received valuable contribution from national and international donors including the Rotary Club.[6] Media reports indicate that of the 1.5 million children born every year in Uganda, about 15,000 have heart defects at birth (congenital heart abnormalities). Of those, about 8,000 children require corrective surgeries. Uganda's only heart institute has the capacity to perform only 1,000 heart operations annually. That leaves a backlog of 7,000 youngsters every year.[7]
Expansion plans
[edit]Beginning in August 2015, the Government of Uganda had plans to break ground for a new 200 bed hospital to be named Uganda Institute of Cardiothoracic Diseases, to replace the current Uganda Heart Institute. The new hospital will have three operating theatres, cardiac catheterization laboratories, an Intensive Care Unit, and research facilities. The construction will be funded by a US$64.9 million (UGX:169 billion) loan from the Islamic Development Bank. It is anticipated that the Institute will seek financial autonomy to raise funds, hire staff, pay salaries, and procure supplies, independent of Mulago Hospital, similar to the autonomy enjoyed by the Uganda Cancer Institute.[8][9]
The New Vision newspaper, reported in November 2016, that Uganda Heart Institute had acquired land measuring 2.5 acres (10,000 m2) along Owen Road in the Mulago neighborhood, where it was going to build its new headquarters. The new complex will consist of three towers: (a) the first tower will house the outpatient clinics and hospital beds, including an intensive care unit (b) the second tower will include research laboratories and conference rooms and (c) the third tower will house critical staff, such as research fellows, residents and biomedical engineers. Total cost for the entire project is budgeted at US$65 million, of which US$51 million is for construction and the US$14 million balance is for equipment.[10]
In April 2022, Dr John Omagino, the Executive director of UHI disclosed that the institute had acquired 10 acres (4.0 ha) of land in the Naguru–Nakawa Government Complex. The institute plans to build a 250-bed hospital here, expandable to 1,000 beds over time. The new hospital is expected to save the government of Uganda an estimated US$73 million that is spent on treating high ranking government officials overseas annually.[11]
In July 2022, the UHI disclosed that a consortium comprising the Saudi Fund for Development, the OPEC Fund for International Development and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa had agreed to lend US$75 million (UGX 285 billion) "for establishing a state-of-the-art heart surgery and treatment centre", at Naguru, in Kampala. This new hospital will be capable of performing 5,000 heart surgeries annually, up from the current 1,000 performed in the limited space at Mulago.[12] IN March 2024, the New Vision newspaper reported that total amount borrowed from the three Middle Eastern lenders totaled Ush223 billion (US$61 million in 2024 money).[13]
Expansion budget and financing
[edit]The plan calls for a 250- bed hospital in the first phase, expandable to 500 beds in the second phase and to 1,000 beds in the third phase.[5] The construction of the new headquarters and hospital is budgeted at US$73 million. The table below illustrates the sources of finding for the project.[14]
| Rank | Development Partner | Funding in US$ million | Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) | 30.0 |
41.09 |
Loan |
| 2 | OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) | 20.0 |
27.40 |
Loan |
| 3 | Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) | 20.0 |
27.40 |
Loan |
| 4 | Government of Uganda (GoU) | 3.0 |
4.11 |
Equity |
| Total | 73.0 |
100.00 |
The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract was awarded to Arab Contractors Uganda Limited at a contract price of US$45.4 million. Two Chinese construction companies, who did not win the bid, complained to a government tribunal that adjudicates such disputes in the country. In Q3 2024, the tribunal ruled in favor of Arab Contractors. Construction is expected to begin in Q4 2024.[15]
New developments
[edit]On Monday 22 January 2018, an all-Ugandan team of 14 healthcare specialists performed the first coronary artery bypass surgery operation by an all Ugandan team, in the history of the heart institute. The successful 10-hour operation was billed at USh18 million (approx. US$5,000), compared to USh300 million (approx. US$83,000), if it were done in a private hospital in South Africa, a common destination for Ugandan patients with means.[16][17]
In April 2018, a cohort of 11 patients with abnormal heart rhythms, underwent a procedure called catheter ablation using the radiofrequency ablation method. All eleven of the patients benefited and recovered well. This was the first time this type of procedure was performed in Uganda.[18]
Board of directors
[edit]As of August 2021[update] the following constituted the nine-member UHI board of Directors.[4]
| Rank | Name | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. James Magara | Chairman | Dental surgeon and management consultant[4] |
| 2 | Dr. Rosemary Byanyima | Member | Executive Director Mulago National Referral Hospital |
| 3 | Dr. Charles Akiya Oyoo | Member | Commissioner, Non-Communicable Diseases Uganda Ministry of Health[19] |
| 4 | Prof. Damalie Nakanjako | Member | Principal and Professor of Medicine at Makerere University College of Health Sciences |
| 5 | Grace Ndyareeba | Member | Financial consultant. Managing Director and CEO of MicroPay, a Ugandan fintech.[20] |
| 6 | John Odiri Ogund Omagino | UHI Executive Director | Cardiovascular surgeon |
| 7 | Rosemary Kiwanuka | Member | |
| 8 | Irene Lugayizi | Member | |
| 9 | Peters Kizito Musoke | Member |
List of medical directors of UHI
[edit]The following cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons have served as the director of the Uganda Heart Institute since its foundation in 1988:[1]
- Francis Omaswa, cardiovascular surgeon, 1988 - 1998
- Roy Mugerwa, cardiologist, 1998 - 2008
- John Omagino, cardiothoracic surgeon, since 2008
See also
[edit]- Makerere University School of Medicine
- Hospitals in Uganda
- Mulago Women's Referral Hospital
- Uganda Cancer Institute
- List of medical schools in Uganda
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Robert Ssebunnya (27 February 2013). "Mulago can now handle open heart surgery". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Distance Between Amber House, Speke Road, Central Kampala And Uganda Heart Institute, Mulago Hill, Kampala" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Location of Uganda Heart Institute" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d New Vision (26 August 2021). "Uganda Heart Institute Tasked To Retain Specialists". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ a b ChimpReports (14 July 2022). "Parliament's Health Committee Okays US$70 Million Loan for Heart Institute". ChimpReports.com. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ New Vision (1 March 2014). "Uganda Heart Institute Sends More Staff to US for Skills". New Vision (Kampala). Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ Birungi, Sandra Janet (8 March 2015). "15,000 children born with heart problems annually". Daily Monitor (Kampala). Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- ^ Nabatanzi, Violet (12 January 2015). "Heart institute to undergo sh169b expansion". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ Simon Musasizi (1 February 2015). "Uganda: Heart Institute to Split With Mulago" (via AllAfrica.com). The Observer (Uganda). Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
- ^ Norman, Andrew; Katende, Lule (13 November 2016). "Heart Institute new home to cost USh225 billion". New Vision. Kampala, Ugnda. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ^ Watchdog Uganda (27 April 2022). "MPs tour proposed site of Uganda Heart Institute". Watchdog Uganda. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
- ^ Tonny Abet (19 July 2022). "MPs okay Shs285b loan for heart institute facility". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ Umar Kashaka (11 March 2024). "Uganda Heart Institute Seeks Contractor For New Sh223 Billion Facility". New Vision. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Busein Samilu (1 June 2023). "Govt seals heart institute deal with Arabian bank". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ {Uganda Radio Network (1 October 2024). "Uganda Heart Institute: Tribunal Upholds $45.4m Contract Award". The Observer (Uganda). Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Emmanuel Ainebyona (24 January 2018). "Heart institute conducts unique open heart surgery". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ^ Emmanuel Ainebyona (27 January 2018). "Mulago patient speaks out after open heart surgery". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
- ^ Emmanuel Ainebyona (11 April 2018). "UHI corrects abnormal heart beats for 11 patients in first-ever procedure". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ Tonny Abet (12 July 2022). "Govt to train district health workers on diabetes, cancer". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ Daily Monitor (22 June 2015). "After 33 years as a banker he quit to form his own business". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
