Stop discharging patients with cannulas, medics told

What the report says

Luwero district health officer Dr Innocent Nkonwa has urged health workers to stop sending patients home with intravenous (IV) cannulas still inserted, saying the practice is unsafe and not acceptable. The warning, reported by The Observer, focuses on patients discharged after treatment with the small tube still in a vein, often in the hand or arm.

Nkonwa said cannulas are meant for patients receiving intravenous care in a health facility and should be removed before discharge. He argued that leaving them in place can expose patients to infection, irritation, pain, swelling and other complications if the tube is bumped, displaced or not properly managed. He also said health workers should not use a patient’s inability to stay admitted as a reason to leave the device in place.

According to the report, Nkonwa called the practice unethical and said staff who discharge patients this way would be personally accountable. He encouraged health workers to use other methods for patients who need medicine but do not require admission, while still prioritising safe procedures.

The article also notes that some residents in Luwero say cost pressures can influence patients to go home early rather than pay for admission and monitoring. That broader context highlights the tension between patient safety and financial constraints in local care settings.