Health 3 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Struggles with Severe Shortage of Cancer Screening Experts, Leading to Late Diagnoses
Uganda faces a critical lack of cytotechnologists, resulting in late cancer detections and high mortality rates, as experts highlight during a national health conference. Government pledges policy reforms to boost training in key specialist areas. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/uganda-faces-acute-shortage-of-cancer-screening-specialists-experts-warn-5445050
Uganda is experiencing a dire shortage of cytotechnologists, the specialists responsible for early cancer screening, which is driving up late-stage diagnoses and deaths from the disease.
Peter Nyamutale, registrar at the Uganda Allied Health Professionals Council, noted that with 108 hospitals needing at least three cytotechnologists each—totaling around 540—the country has only 46 registered professionals. This gap means many patients arrive at stage three or four, when treatment is far harder.
The Uganda Cancer Institute reports 34,000 to 37,000 new cases yearly, with over 22,000 deaths and nearly 80% of patients dying within a year due to delayed detection and treatment access.
Nyamutale also pointed to shortages of anaesthetic officers, essential for safe surgeries, emphasizing the need for complete healthcare teams.
Training limitations exacerbate the issue: only one of 11 universities offers cytotechnology programs, while most focus on oversaturated fields despite known gaps shared with institutions.
At the Fourth National Health Professionals Education, Training and Health Care Conference in Jinja, the Ministry of Health launched the National Education and Training for Health Policy 2025. Dr. Safina Museene, Commissioner for Health Education and Training, affirmed it targets training in oncology, cardiology, neurosurgery, and anaesthesia to fill these voids and cut preventable deaths.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)