PROFILE: HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSION
The Health Service Commission (HSC) is a government agency, established in 1998 to address unique Human Resources for health, the core is recruitment of qualified and competent human resources for health, for efficient and effective health service delivery.
The Commission is mandated to appoint, confirm, promote and review the terms and conditions of service, training and qualifications of health workers.
It is also mandated to foster professional and work ethics, and exercise disciplinary control over health workers under its jurisdiction.
The current Commission is chaired by DR. Pius Okong, deputized by Dr. Christine Mwebesa. The others members are Prof. Medi Kawuma, Mrs. Irene Akena Cheruto, Dr. Apollo Karugaba, Ms Ruth Frances Atala, Mr. Seale Anabo Anguma and Ms. Mary Teopista Wenene as the Secretary to the Commission.
The HSC handles human resource for the Ministry of Health Head Quarters, National Referral Hospitals, Regional Referral Hospitals, the Directorate of Public Health and Environment under KCCA, and specialized institutions such as the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, Uganda Cancer Institute and Medical Professional Councils.
The Commission also provides guidelines, technical support and supervision to District Service Commission (DSCs) and Local Governments on matters relating to HRH management. The mission of the HSC is “to build a fundamentally strong and competent Human Resource base for efficient Health Service delivery.
Mission: To develop, manage, and regulate the health workforce for improved health service delivery.
Vision: To have a motivated, competent, and adequately staffed health workforce for quality health service delivery.
Functions of the HSC
- Recruitment and selection of health workers.
- Staff performance management and appraisal.
- Training and development of health workers.
- Health workforce planning and policy development.
- Accreditation and regulation of health training institutions.
- Maintenance of health workforce data and records.
The HSC is structured into five departments of;
Human Resources Management, Planning and Development, Training and Development, Accreditation and Regulation and Health Workforce Information Management
The HSC in fulfilment of its obligations, partners with:-
- Ministry of Health, Uganda
- Health training institutions
- Professional associations (e.g., Uganda Medical Association, Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council)
- International partners (e.g., WHO, UNICEF)
The HSC has implemented various initiatives to improve healthcare delivery in Uganda, including:
- Strengthening health systems and infrastructure.
- Improving access to essential medicines and health supplies.
- Enhancing healthcare worker training and development.
- Promoting community engagement and participation in health planning.
- Developed and implemented health workforce policies and guidelines.
- Accredited health training institutions.
- Managed health workforce data and information.
- Improved health service delivery through effective health workforce management.
According to the chairman HSC Dr. Pius Okong, the Commission is currently undertaking a recruitment exercise that will see 1200 medical personnel deployed in the various government medical facilities across the country by September this year. This follows the clearance from ministry of public service in February 2024.
He said the commission is prioritizing the enhancement of service delivery and creation of more job opportunities for trained health professionals, particularly critical medical officers in hospitals.
He observed that certain specialties such as ophthalmology, radiology, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Orthopedics, Pathology, Pediatrics, Surgery and Speech therapy remain underserved. He said it is critical to allocate resources to support students pursuing these fields.
Okong also cited inadequate resources, and lack of sufficient space for carrying out the commission’s work especially during the recruitment exercise as some of the challenges faced by the commission.