Medical staff at Jinja regional referral hospital have called off their sit down strike after the release of Dr. Charles Barungi from police custody on bond.
Samson Lubega, South Eastern regional police spokesperson, confirmed the release of Dr. Charles Barungi. He, however, said that the charge of corruption against the doctor had been filed with Thomas Jasiko, the resident state attorney, South Eastern region.
Dr. Charles Barungi is accused of soliciting a UGX 700,000 bribe to treat operate on a patient, Sharita Nakato, who died last Friday.
Sulah Nsubuga, the father of the deceased, objected to the release of Dr. Charles Barungi on police bond. He said the release of Dr. Charles Barungi would delay and affect investigations into his daughter’s death.
Dr. Michael Osinde, Jinja Hospital medical director, said that though Dr. Charles Barungi had been released, he would not resume work until investigations were complete and the matter settled.
Dr. Osinde said the death of Sharita Nakato, would be investigated under guidelines set up by World Health Organization, Ministry of Health and the Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Uganda to access the circumstances surrounding her death.
\\\\ Cue in “we expect that before Friday…”
Cue out “…were all these looked into.”//
Meanwhile patients at the hospital welcomed the end of the sit down strike.
Nuliat Nantongo, a mother who gave birth in the hospital compound last Sunday with the help of her husband, has been discharged after proper treatment today. She appealed to the doctors not go on any more strikes as their actions affect the lives of patients too poor to pay private hospital bills.
