The Ministry of Health has raised serious concerns about the critical shortage of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals across the country, warning that the gap is hindering efforts to provide adequate mental healthcare services.

According to the ministry, while there are 85 qualified psychiatrists in the country, only 20 are currently employed.

The situation is similarly dire among clinical psychologists, with only 6 of the 344 trained professionals actively working in the field.

The numbers are no better for other categories. Of the 3,700 trained social workers, only 44 are employed.

Among over 4,000 psychiatric nurses, just 821 are in active service.

Additionally, only 135 of the 600 psychiatric clinical officers are on duty, and just 20 of the 212 occupational therapists are practicing.

Dr. Hafsa Lukwata, Assistant Commissioner for Mental Health at the Ministry of Health, expressed concern over the lack of clarity regarding the status of many of the unemployed professionals.

She noted that some may be misplaced within other district-level health departments, contributing to a mismatch between skill availability and service needs.

Despite the concerning figures, Dr. Lukwata highlighted ongoing government efforts to improve mental health services.

She announced that 14 government hospitals have recently enhanced their mental healthcare capacity by employing at least one psychiatrist each an encouraging step toward addressing the service gap.

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