The Ministry of Health expressed confidence that the appointments will enhance coordination, clinical leadership, and the delivery of high-quality Internal Medicine services, contributing to improved health outcomes for Ugandans.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, has appointed Dr. Kabugo Charles, Executive Director of Kiruddu National Referral Hospital, as the National Chief Physician, and Dr. Frederick Nakwagala, Clinical Head of Internal Medicine at Mulago National Referral Hospital, as the National Deputy Chief Physician.
The appointments, which will run for a period of two years, are aimed at strengthening leadership, clinical governance, and service delivery in Internal Medicine across the country.
In their new roles, Dr. Kabugo and Dr. Nakwagala will spearhead key initiatives designed to improve patient outcomes and enhance the quality of care. Their responsibilities will include superintending over the weekly Medical Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) meetings and guiding the implementation of actions arising from these reviews.
They will also lead medical technical discussions and learning engagements within the MDSR forum, fostering continuous learning and improvement among healthcare professionals.
A major component of their mandate will be supporting the establishment of Medical Care Networks (MCNs) within the country’s Integrated Care Systems. These networks, to be led by senior consultants, consultants, or associate consultants at the regional level, will strengthen the hub-and-spoke model of delivering Internal Medicine services across Uganda.
Additionally, the two physicians will support the dissemination and implementation of Ministry of Health policies, guidelines, and standards of care in Internal Medicine. They will champion quality improvement initiatives, promote evidence-based medical practice, and facilitate collaboration among specialists, clinicians, professional councils, training institutions, and implementing partners involved in the care of patients with internal medicine conditions.
The appointments also place emphasis on mentorship, capacity building, and professional development of healthcare workers to strengthen expertise and service delivery in Internal Medicine nationwide.
As part of their accountability framework, the National Chief Physician and Deputy Chief Physician will submit quarterly reports to the Office of the Permanent Secretary and make quarterly presentations to the Health Leadership and Clinical Governance Committee. Through these engagements, they will advise the Ministry on emerging priorities, challenges, and opportunities for strengthening Internal Medicine services throughout the country.
The Ministry of Health expressed confidence that the appointments will enhance coordination, clinical leadership, and the delivery of high-quality Internal Medicine services, contributing to improved health outcomes for Ugandans.
