For 20 consecutive years, the Joint Annual Scientific Health (JASH) Conference has provided a platform for researchers, healthcare professionals, academics and policymakers to share scientific findings, exchange knowledge and identify practical solutions to Uganda’s health challenges. #JASH2026 #NACNCDC2026 #UnifiedAction Speaking at the 20th JASH & 2nd Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases Conference 2026, Dr. Innocent Besigye, Senior Director in the Department of Family Medicine at @Makerere University’s School of Medicine, commended the organisers and partners for sustaining this annual scientific gathering without interruption for two decades. He emphasised that the conference goes beyond presenting research findings. It creates an important opportunity for researchers to engage directly with policymakers and healthcare practitioners, ensuring that scientific evidence contributes to informed decision-making, improved clinical practice and stronger health systems. Dr. Innocent highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between research and implementation, noting that scientific knowledge must ultimately translate into tangible improvements in the health and well-being of communities. By bringing different stakeholders together, the conference helps ensure that research findings inform policies and practices that respond to the needs of Ugandans. He also underscored the value of partnerships and collaboration in addressing the country’s evolving health challenges, particularly the growing burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. He encouraged participants to use the conference as an opportunity to establish new professional networks, strengthen existing partnerships and explore collaborative research initiatives. As the conference marks its 20th edition, its continued commitment to scientific exchange and evidence-informed healthcare remains essential to improving health outcomes and advancing public health in Uganda.

Addressing Uganda’s health challenges requires more than treating diseases after they occur. It calls for sustained investment in prevention, stronger primary healthcare services, research and innovation, and community-level interventions that reduce the burden of disease. #JASH2026 #NACNCDC2026 #UnifiedAction Speaking at the 20th JASH & 2nd Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases Conference 2026, Dr. @DianaAtwine emphasised the importance of prioritising proven, cost-effective interventions that deliver the greatest impact for communities. She highlighted the continuing burden of malaria and the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance, including resistance affecting the treatment of malaria, tuberculosis and other infections. These challenges underscore the need to strengthen research and innovation to identify effective treatment options, develop new interventions and improve the delivery of healthcare at both community and facility levels. Dr. Atwine called for increased investment in primary healthcare, stressing that resources must reach communities where prevention, early diagnosis and timely treatment can reduce complications and prevent avoidable deaths. She further emphasised the importance of empowering communities with accurate health information. Sustained public education can encourage people to adopt healthier behaviours, seek medical attention early and participate in preventive health services. Her remarks reinforced the need to move beyond discussions and translate commitments into tangible investments in prevention, research and primary healthcare. As Uganda works towards improving health outcomes, the priority remains clear: fund what works, strengthen community-level services and invest in research that provides practical solutions to the country's health challenges.

In his remarks at the opening of the 20th JASH & 2nd Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases Conference 2026, Joseph Enyimu, speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury @mofpedU , highlighted health tourism as an emerging opportunity to retain foreign exchange, attract investment, create jobs and strengthen the country's healthcare capacity. #JASH2026 #NACNCDC2026 #UnifiedAction He observed that Ugandans continue to travel abroad for specialised services, including cardiac surgery, cancer treatment, kidney transplants and orthopaedic care. These journeys carry significant financial costs for patients and families while directing resources towards healthcare facilities outside the country. Enyimu argued that investing in specialised healthcare at home would help retain this expenditure within Uganda while positioning the country to attract patients from across East Africa and the wider region. He identified several areas with potential for investment and growth: - Specialised medical services: Expanding cardiac care, oncology, renal and transplant services, orthopaedics, fertility treatment and eye care to meet local and regional demand. - Diagnostics and laboratory services: Strengthening imaging, pathology and advanced diagnostic networks that support early diagnosis and treatment for both Ugandan and international patients. - Patient accommodation and rehabilitation: Developing patient hotels, rehabilitation centres and recovery services that complement hospital care and connect medical visits with Uganda's wider tourism offering. - Pharmaceutical manufacturing: Expanding local and regional production of medicines to reduce import dependence, strengthen supply security and create opportunities for industrial growth. - Health education and research: Investing in medical and nursing education, clinical research and specialist training to attract students, retain skilled professionals and strengthen Uganda's research capacity. - Digital health: Developing telemedicine, remote consultations, second-opinion services and digital health records that allow regional patients to access specialist expertise before travelling and receive follow-up care after returning home. He also emphasised the role of government in making these investments viable through public-private partnerships, development finance, internationally competitive standards, improved air connectivity and stronger regional cooperation. Simplified medical travel arrangements and cross-border health insurance portability could further make Uganda a more accessible destination for specialised care. However, Enyimu cautioned that the growth of health tourism must not create a two-tier health system in which premium services benefit international and wealthy patients while ordinary Ugandans are left behind. Where public resources support private specialised facilities, he called for safeguards that protect access for local patients, support the training of young doctors and promote transparent pricing. The broader vision is to build a healthcare sector that serves Ugandans while attracting regional investment, generating employment and contributing to sustainable health financing. Health tourism should not compete with universal health coverage; when properly designed, it can help finance and strengthen it.