Uganda’s healthcare system is structured into various levels, with Referral Hospitals playing a pivotal role in providing specialized medical services. These hospitals are categorized into National Referral Hospitals and Regional Referral Hospitals, each serving specific functions within the healthcare hierarchy.
1. National Referral Hospitals:
These are the apex hospitals in Uganda’s healthcare system, offering specialized services and handling complex medical cases.
- Mulago National Referral Hospital: Located in Kampala, it is the largest hospital in Uganda, serving as the primary teaching hospital for Makerere University College of Health Sciences.
- Butabika National Referral Hospital: Situated in Kampala, it specializes in mental health services, providing comprehensive psychiatric care.
2. Regional Referral Hospitals:
These hospitals provide specialized healthcare services to specific regions, acting as intermediaries between general hospitals and national referral hospitals. They handle cases referred from lower-level health facilities. Notable regional referral hospitals include:
- Arua Regional Referral Hospital: Serving the West Nile region, it provides a range of medical services to the surrounding districts.
- Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital (Buhinga Hospital): Located in Fort Portal, it caters to the Toro sub-region, offering various specialized services.
- Gulu Regional Referral Hospital: Serving the Northern region, it offers specialized medical care to the surrounding communities.
- Hoima Regional Referral Hospital: Located in Hoima, it caters to the Bunyoro sub-region, providing various medical services.
- Jinja Regional Referral Hospital: Serving the Eastern region, it offers specialized healthcare services to the surrounding districts.
- Kabale Regional Referral Hospital: Situated in Kabale, it serves the Kigezi sub-region, providing a range of medical services.
- Lira Regional Referral Hospital: Serving the Lango sub-region, it offers specialized medical care to the community.
- Masaka Regional Referral Hospital: Located in Masaka, it caters to the Central region, providing various specialized services.
- Mbale Regional Referral Hospital: Serving the Eastern region, it offers a range of medical services to the surrounding communities.
- Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital: Situated in Mbarara, it serves the Western region, providing specialized healthcare services.
- Moroto Regional Referral Hospital: Serving the Karamoja sub-region, it offers medical services to the surrounding districts.
- Mubende Regional Referral Hospital: Located in Mubende, it caters to the Central region, providing various medical services.
- Soroti Regional Referral Hospital: Serving the Teso sub-region, it offers specialized healthcare services to the community.
These referral hospitals are integral to Uganda’s healthcare delivery, ensuring that specialized medical services are accessible across different regions.
