Uganda: Health Ministry Plans Validation of All Health Workers to Weed Out Quacks

What the report says

Uganda’s Ministry of Health says it is preparing a nationwide validation process for health workers in an effort to identify and remove unqualified practitioners from both public and private facilities. The plan was outlined by Director General of Health Services Charles Olaro, according to the report carried by Nile Post and distributed by AllAfrica, with the ministry saying workers may be required to present their names and professional titles more clearly to patients.

The proposed reforms are aimed at improving public trust and making it easier for patients to know who is treating them and what credentials they hold. Olaro also said the ministry wants to tackle practices it sees as risky, including patients moving between facilities with intravenous cannulas, which he said can increase infection risk.

Beyond verification, the ministry is also pushing broader changes in how care is delivered. Olaro urged a greater emphasis on prevention, routine screening and self-care, rather than waiting until illness is advanced. He cited services such as HIV self-sampling and some cancer screening methods as examples of preventive approaches that could expand access.

The ministry is additionally considering digitalisation of the health system to strengthen accountability and monitor prescribing patterns. In general, such systems can help track medication use and support better oversight, though the article does not give a timeline for implementation.