The Ministry of Health has established a teleradiology center at Mulago National Referral Hospital to aid the electronic transmission of radiological images from Computed Tomography (CT) scan machines at Regional Referral Hospitals.
The move comes amidst the shortage of specialist radiologists meant to operate the CT scans installed by the Ministry of Health at Regional Referral hospitals across the country.
At least 14 regional referral hospitals last year received CT scan machines from the Health Ministry but months later, the majority lie idle.
Gulu Regional Referral Hospital Acting Principal Administrator James Ojwang said on Thursday that they haven’t operated the CT scanner since its installation last year because it hasn’t yet been validated by the Uganda Atomic Energy Council.
He also notes that the facility lacks a specialist radiologist to operate the machine which has rendered it idle at the moment.
“We don’t have a specialist to operate the machine at the moment, we have however advertised the position and still waiting for the feedback,” says Ogwang.
Ogwang says a team from the Uganda Atomic Energy Council visited the facility two weeks ago for inspecting the CT Scans.
Dr. Nathan Onyach, the Lira Regional Referral Hospital Director said that the facility lacks a radiologist despite receiving a CT scanner from the Ministry.
He says due to a lack of specialized medical equipment, the region has failed to attract specialist doctors.
Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Ministry of Health Senior Public Relations Officer said that some Referral Hospitals where the CT scan machines were installed lacked specialist radiologists.
He however says the Ministry has since created a center where scan results conducted by an operator at the regional Referral Hospitals will be electronically delivered to specialists’ radiologists at Mulago for interpretation.
“We have created a center where they will be sending images to radiologists at Mulago Hospital for interpretation,” says Ainebyoona.
Ainebyoona notes that as long as the hospitals where the CT scans are installed have qualified persons to operate the scan, all they require is to deliver the image to specialist doctors who will provide expert analysis, interpretation, and recommendation.
He also notes that some of the CT scanners installed were yet to be verified by the Uganda Atomic Energy Council before the Health Ministry commissions them for operation.
On Monday, the Health Ministry reported that CT scans in seven regional Referral Hospitals had already been verified by the Uganda Atomic Energy Council. The Regional Referral Hospitals are Fort portal, Mubende, Masaka, Hoima, Mbale, Jinja, and Soroti.
A CT scan is a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of X-rays and computer technology to produce images of the inside of the body. It shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, organs, and blood vessels.
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