The Uganda Medical Association (U.M.A) 7th Grande Doctors Conference (GDC) and Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2023

CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT
Dear Medical Doctors, Researchers, Health Workers, Policy Makers, students and members of the civil Society.
On behalf of the Uganda Medical Association (U.M.A) and Uganda Medical Association SACCO (UMA SACCO), we take this opportunity to invite and welcome you to U.M. A’s 7th Grande Doctors Conference (GDC) and Annual General meeting (AGM). Every year, U.M.A together with partners organises a 2-day GDC and AGM conference – where medical doctors, health researchers and other professionals from universities and health Institutions all over Uganda and the diaspora, present and discuss their work to an audience of medical, health scientists and community stakeholders from Uganda and internationally.
This year’s conference is being organised by key partners below:

• UMA SACCO
• Office of the First Lady of the Republic of Uganda
• Ministry of Health-Uganda
• Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI)
• MBN Clinical Laboratories
• SEED Global Health
• Makerere University Biomedical Research Center (MakBRC)

Conference Dates: Friday 10th – Saturday 11th November 2023.
Venue: Silver Springs Hotel, Uganda.
Audience: 500 Doctors, Health Scientists & Policy makers in Uganda, Africa/Global Agencies
Chief Guest: H.E. Janet Kataha Museveni – The First Lady and Minister for Education and Sports.

CONFERENCE THEME AND SUBTHEMES
‘RE-IMAGINING UGANDA’S HEALTH FINANCING AND WORKFORCE
STRATEGIC DIRECTION’

CONCEPT NOTE
Background

Uganda’s healthcare system has faced numerous challenges from pre-colonial to post-colonial times. Initially, the main issue was accessibility to healthcare due to limited infrastructure and connectivity with public facilities scarce and scattered miles apart, while private facilities were limited and mainly confined to informal local settings of “shambas”.
With the turn of the 21st century, however, this situation has greatly improved due to the increase in population, technological advancements, and globalisation efforts. Currently, there is a public facility in almost every sub-county, private facilities are so ubiquitous setting the stage for the present challenges of healthcare affordability and harnessing a workforce to deliver quality and safe healthcare.

Vulnerable Health system

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the significant vulnerabilities in health financing, human resources for health, and advanced health equipment accessibility. This trend was observed globally, but sub-Saharan countries like Uganda were hit harder than their European or Asian counterparts in terms of healthcare systems.
The shortage of health workers to care for a surge of critically ill patients resulted in burnout, stress, depression, and anxiety among the already stretched-thin workforce. Matters got worse when many fell sick too and others succumbed to the illness. Additionally, access to necessary supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPE), medication, and other consumables was constrained as the government struggled to provide these to frontline healthcare providers prompting the private sector and capable individuals to step in and ease the situation.
Overall, this situation served as a wake-up call for the healthcare industry.

High Cost of Healthcare

Access to quality healthcare is a basic human right that all Ugandan citizens should be able to enjoy. Unfortunately, many Ugandans are struggling with huge out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, with many being detained in health facilities due to failure to clear their medical bills. The healthcare system is under considerable financial pressure evidenced by high out-of-pocket expenses, shortage of essential medicines and medical supplies, low wages for healthcare workers (including unpaid or unofficial overtime hours), difficulties recruiting and retaining healthcare workers.

Inadequate Health sector Financing

The challenges faced by Uganda’s health sector can be traced back to the government’s insufficient investment. Despite pledging to allocate 15% of the national budget to healthcare financing as per the Abuja declaration of 2001, the Ministry of Health has been receiving meagre portions of the allocations. From 2010/2011 to 2015/2016 FYs, the ministry received an average of 7.8%, and this has further dropped to about 7% in the proposed 2023/24 budget.
Henceforth, the ministry is unable to provide predominantly free public healthcare services as per the government policy. This has resulted in chronic instances of drug and material stock-outs, rampant shortage of resources for system strengthening through supervision and monitoring, poor equipment and infrastructure maintenance, and multiple health worker industrial actions. To compound the misery, large public health facilities are struggling to pay for basic utilities like water and electricity thus being threatened with cut-offs by same government agencies.
With the above status quo, it is then paradoxical that the medical tourism out of Uganda, reportedly costing about USD 150 million annually (equivalent to shillings 377 billion), is being led by bureaucratic and state officials who are responsible for planning of the nation’s health welfare. This is a humongous financial burden to a country unable to provide for the greater health needs of its population!
Furthermore, the situation is set to become worse following the recent announcement by the World Bank and other foreign entities to re-consider aid and loans to Uganda due to the Anti-Homosexuality leanings as evidenced by the bill passed by the country’s legislature to the same effect. Many analysts predict that this will lead to economic difficulties, and without doubt the health sector will be grossly affected too.

Call to action

▪ Uganda needs to find innovative ways to sustainably finance its healthcare costs without compromising the quality and safety of care. This is crucial in achieving the SDG goals 2030, African Union Agenda 2063, and Uganda Vision 2040, which aim to create a healthcare system that promotes economic and social transformation.
▪ The 7th U.M.A GDC conference 2023 will provide a platform for policymakers, health practitioners, medical researchers, and community stakeholders to discuss sustainable strategies and evidence-based practices for improving healthcare financing and securing the health workforce’s long-term growth and welfare.

Conference Sub-themes

I. Innovations to build and strengthen capacity for human resources for health
II. Novel strategies to sustainably finance universal health coverage
III. Harnessing the potential of digital technologies and data systems to enhance health system performance and responsiveness.

Objectives of the Conference

▪ In this conference, we will focus on ways to improve the capacity of human resources for health in Uganda by recruiting, training, and retaining motivated health workers.
▪ We will also explore innovative strategies for sustainable financing of universal health coverage in Uganda.
▪ Additionally, we will examine the potential of digital technologies and data systems to enhance health system performance and responsiveness. This will include discussing developments in Telehealth, data-driven health, surveillance, response, preparedness, health security, monitoring, evaluation and control, and artificial intelligence.

▪ Finally, we will shed light on emerging and re-emerging health problems in Uganda such as COVID-19, cholera, malaria, antibiotic resistance, hypertension, adult vaccination, travel medicine, injuries due to road traffic crashes, and drowning.

Expected Outcomes

i. We will generate practical recommendations for improving the capacity of healthcare personnel to meet present and future demands.
ii. We will also onboard innovative and evidence-based approaches to financing universal health coverage in Uganda.
iii. Ultimately, we will showcase top-notch, affordable healthcare technologies and data systems that can enhance the performance, responsiveness, and connectivity of public and private healthcare sectors.

CONFERENCE DATES

Friday 10th, and Saturday 11th November 2023.
▪ On the 10th November, we will have the GDC agenda inclusive of Key Note addresses, Panel Discussions and Abstract presentations.
▪ On the 11th November, we will have more presentations in the morning period and the Awards giving ceremony after. The U.M.A AGM will start at 2:00 pm and end with elections for new leadership.
▪ On the evening of the first day,10th November 2023, the conference will be crowned off with the Grande Doctors Fellowship Dinner where the Guest of Honour will be the First Lady and Minister for Education and Sports – H.E Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni.

CONFERENCE VENUE
❖ Silver Springs Hotel-Bugolobi, Uganda.

REGISTRATION

All participants are required to register.
Register by sending an email to granddoctorsconference@gmail.com with your details and evidence of payment of the conference fees as outlined below.
Those unable to use the email address above can contact the conference secretariat or register at the venue during the first day of the conference.

FEES AND PAYMENT INFORMATION

Each participant is required to pay a registration fee. Just in case, you have not yet paid, please select your category and pay the registration fees as structured in the table below;

Conference Fee Structure:

Why pay? Payment entitles you to full attendance, abstracts summary, and conference stationary. You will also be entitled to break tea, lunch & evening tea for 2 days. Also, your guaranteed entry into the exhibition and poster rooms.
NOTE: Accommodation and dinners are NOT covered in the registration fees. You may be required to book and pay for them by yourself separately.
NB: Kindly note that a communication about the payment details of the Grande Doctor’s dinner on the evening of 10th November will be clarified soon.

How to Pay the Conference registration Fee:

Option 1: Pay via mobile money to details below with reason as ‘GDC 2023’
Option 2: Pay by depositing cash or Cheque in the bank details below
Option 3: Pay by TT to the bank details below

Payment options

Once payment is done into the bank, scan the bank slip and send to the email
below: granddoctorsconference@gmail.com or contact the secretariat
Once your payment is received, we will issue a receipt to you either physically or
through an email.
Option 4: Pay upon arrival at the conference Hall on your first attendance day.
Note: In case an institution pays for her delegates before they register, the institution is required to email us the payment info and a list of the delegates paid for. These delegates should be asked by the institution to register by email before the conference dates.