Breaking Down the Reality of Getting Medical Care for Children in Uganda
When we think about surgery, we often imagine the operation itself. A skilled surgeon, an operating theatre with all the necessary equipment and safe surgery being performed.
But for millions of families around the world, surgery is a chain of costs, decisions, and barriers. And if one link in that chain is missing, the surgery simply doesn’t happen.
At Humanity Direct, we see this reality every day. And it’s why understanding the true cost of safe surgery matters.
The Myth of “Free” Healthcare
In Uganda, healthcare is officially free. But in practice, families are often expected to pay for much of their care known as ‘out of pocket’ expenses.
Stock shortages mean hospitals frequently ask patients to provide their own medicines and bandages and that’s before the cost of reaching a hospital has been factored in.
For many families, surgery isn’t just a medical challenge, it’s a financial one and one that leaves many families having to decide between school fees or medical care.
The Journey to Surgery: What Families Actually Pay.
According to the Lancet Commission for Global Surgery guidelines, safe, timely surgical care should be accessible within two hours. However, in Uganda, only 25% of the population can reach a hospital capable of essential, safe surgery within this time frame. And it costs a lot of money.
- A single motorbike taxi ride might cost £2–£10
- Longer journeys to regional hospitals can cost £10–£30 or more
- With multiple visits required, transport alone can total £20–£60
For families living on very low incomes, that can represent weeks of earnings.
Diagnosis and Tests
Before surgery can go ahead, children need to be assessed. Scans, blood tests and other diagnostic tests can all add up.
- Blood tests: £5–£15
- X-rays: £10–£25
- Ultrasounds: £20–£40
- CT or MRI scans (for complex cases): £100–£300+
Without these, surgery is simply not possible.
Basic Surgical Supplies
Something as simple as a pair of gloves or a bandage can become a costly barrier to medical care.
Families are often asked to purchase:
- Gloves: £2–£5
- Sutures (stitches): £5–£20
- Gauze and bandages: £5–£15
- Antiseptics and IV fluids: £5–£20
These are small costs—but essential ones.
Specialist Equipment
Safe surgery also depends on having the right equipment—especially for children.
Items like:
- Pulse oximeters (£150–£300)
- Paediatric surgical instruments (£300–£1,000)
- Electrocautery machines (£500–£1,500)
- Anaesthesia equipment (£1,000–£5,000+)
These aren’t optional—they’re essential for safe, effective care. And in many hospitals, they are in short supply.
Medication
Even the most basic medicines are not guaranteed.
- Paracetamol: £1–£3
- Antibiotics: £5–£20
- Anaesthesia drugs: £10–£50
- Post-operative medication: £5–£25
Without these, safe surgery and recovery aren’t possible.
The Operation Itself
The cost of surgery varies depending on complexity:
- Hernia repair: £100–£300
- Burn treatment or skin grafts: £200–£600
- Neurosurgery: £1,000–£3,000+
These are life-changing procedures but far beyond what many families can afford.
Hospital Stay
After surgery, care continues.
- Bed and basic care: £5–£20 per day
- A typical stay: £20–£100+
- Food (often not provided): £2–£5 per day
Recovery and Follow-Up
Surgery doesn’t end when a child leaves the operating theatre.
- Follow-up visits: £5–£20
- Wound care and dressings: £5–£15
- Physiotherapy (if needed): £10–£50+
Without follow-up care, even successful surgeries can fail.
The Real Impact on Families
When faced with these costs, families are often forced into impossible choices.
Many will borrow money and push themselves into debt and further poverty, sell precious possessions or be unable to pay school fees.
Even relatively small amounts—£20, £50, £100—can be devastating.
And too often, children go without treatment not because it’s unavailable, but because it’s unaffordable.
Where Humanity Direct Makes the Difference
This is where Humanity Direct steps in.
We don’t just fund the operation, we fund the entire pathway to care.
That includes:
- Transport to hospital
- Consulations
- Diagnostic tests and scans
- Surgical supplies and medication
- The operation itself
- Hospital stay
- Post-operative care and follow-up
- Investment in essential paediatric equipment
What Your Support Can Do
When you support Humanity Direct, you remove those barriers.
- £10 can help a child reach hospital
- £25 can provide essential medicines
- £50 can cover critical tests or supplies
- £150–£1000 can fund a life-changing operation
Read our Success Stories to fund out about the impact safe surgery has meant for our patients.
Safe surgery isn’t just about what happens in the operating theatre. It’s about making sure every child can access safe surgery when they need it from start to finish.
To help fund safe surgery and change a child life please visit: https://www.humanitydirect.org/patients/
