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Buliisa, Uganda | URN | The Buliisa District Health Department is considering the deployment of biometric machines in health facilities to address the rising cases of absenteeism among health workers. District authorities say the move is aimed at improving accountability and ensuring consistent service delivery, as absenteeism and late reporting continue to undermine healthcare services in the area.
Officials note that the biometric machines will be installed in Health Centre IIIs and IVs, where all staff will be required to log in and out daily. The system will be positioned at the entrance of the administration blocks to monitor attendance. Gabriel Tabani, the Buliisa Assistant District Health Officer in charge of Maternal and Child Health, says the machines will not only address absenteeism but also track late arrivals and early departures. He adds that the technology will strengthen human resource management and ensure health workers remain on duty to serve patients effectively.
Meanwhile, the Buliisa Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Sylvester Tumukurate, has expressed concern over the growing absenteeism, warning that it is compromising healthcare delivery in the district. Tumukurate says despite government efforts to enhance salaries for health workers, including midwives and nurses, some continue to abscond from duty, putting patients’ lives at risk.
He adds that absenteeism places pressure on the few available staff and affects the quality of services provided at health facilities. The Deputy RDC has warned that continued absenteeism could prompt disciplinary action, including removal of affected staff from the government payroll.
Residents have also raised concerns about the conduct of some health workers. Juliet Kusemererwa, a resident of Wanseko landing site in Wanseko Town Council, says some health workers report late or fail to show up, while others prioritize their private clinics at the expense of public facilities.
Another resident, Stephen Balikurungi from Avogera Village in Ngwedu Sub-county, is calling for stricter disciplinary measures against absentee staff. He also urged district leaders to strengthen routine supervision to ensure health workers report to duty consistently.
Absenteeism among health workers remains a national concern, despite existing guidelines under the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders (2021), which provide a framework for discipline, professional conduct, and service delivery. The Ministry of Health also enforces service standards and operational manuals aimed at ensuring quality healthcare, but enforcement remains a challenge in some districts.
