The Ministry of Health has cautioned its drivers against utilizing public ambulances for the transportation of deceased individuals.
While Flagging off more than 116 type B ambulances to various constituencies nationwide, Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, emphasized that government ambulances are designated exclusively for emergency medical services.
Dr. Atwine asserted, “Our ambulances are not meant for transporting dead bodies. Private service providers [funeral homes] can handle that.” It is essential to recall that in 2022, the Minister for Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, issued a similar warning, advising district leaders and drivers against misusing ambulances for transporting deceased individuals, food, or officials.
Dr. Aceng emphasized that ambulances are specifically intended to address emergency services, such as transporting patients in critical condition to referral hospitals. According to a 2019 ambulance census by the Ministry of Health, Uganda required 460 ambulances to adequately support its healthcare system. However, at that time, the country only possessed 178 government ambulances and 172 private ambulances.
Prime Minister Robina Nabbanja recently disclosed in Parliament that plans are underway for the Government to acquire 180 ambulances in 2024 to address the shortage of ambulances in Uganda. Nabbanja stated, “In the FY 2024/2025, we plan to procure an additional 180 Type B and Type C ambulances to fill the gaps. The government is committed to addressing the deficiencies in ambulance vehicles at the constituency level by FY 2025/26.”