Summary:
- Minister Aceng emphasized the government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
KAMPALA: The Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, on Tuesday commissioned the state-of-the-art Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) at the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI), marking a major milestone in Uganda’s healthcare journey.
The new Cath Lab, located at the Mulago Hospital Complex, is a specialized facility where minimally invasive heart procedures are performed to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions.
Situated on the first floor of Block C, the laboratory was constructed at a cost of UGX 7.98 billion, fully funded by the Government of Uganda. It is the only facility of its kind in Africa.
The installation, which began in October 2023, is expected to handle 10,000 complex heart procedures over its lifespan.
This new Cath Lab replaces the previous one, installed in 2012, which performed over 6,000 life-saving procedures before being decommissioned in October 2024.
While commissioning the facility, Minister Aceng emphasized the government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
“This Cath Lab is a lifeline for thousands of Ugandans. It ensures they no longer need to travel abroad for critical heart procedures, reducing the financial burden on families,” said Dr. Aceng.
Minister Aceng further highlighted the global health crisis posed by cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming 17.9 million lives annually.
“In Uganda, 1 in 4 adults suffers from hypertension. Additionally, 16,000 babies are born yearly with congenital heart conditions, and 50% of them require urgent interventions. Furthermore, 300,000 schoolchildren are affected by rheumatic heart disease, the most common acquired heart condition,” she noted.
According to Dr. Aceng, the new Cath Lab will offer cardiovascular diagnostics, interventional heart treatments, and emergency heart care.
The government has also made several other improvements at the Uganda Heart Institute, including restoring the ICU for critical cases, approving and starting the construction of a new building to enhance operations, funding treatment for 1,000 patients annually, increasing staff to meet demand, and launching a staff housing project.
Dr. Omagino O.O. John, the Executive Director of UHI, stated, “These achievements reflect the government’s commitment to delivering world-class cardiac care. Our task now is to fully utilize these resources to save lives.”
Minister Aceng commended the staff and leadership at UHI for their dedication and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding access to specialized healthcare, sustaining investment in infrastructure, and developing human resources.
Dr. James Magara, Chairperson of the UHI Board, urged Ugandans to trust the facility.
“World-class healthcare is now available here in Uganda,” he said, sharing the success story of a patient who was redirected from abroad to UHI for treatment.
He also called for the establishment of additional Cath Labs across the country, recommending one Cath Lab for every 1 million people.
