Pharmacists sensitized to improve on quality drug production

By Charles Katabalwa

6^th April 2022

Uganda National Drug Authority -NDA has challenged local Pharmaceutical companies to improve on the quality and quantity of their products to reduce importation of drugs in the country.

It is said only 30% of the needed drugs are manufactured locally and 70% are procured from abroad which makes it difficult to promote the country’s initiative of Buy Uganda Build Uganda-BUBU

Abiaz Rwamwiri, the NDA Spokesperson  while addressing journalists this Wednesday in Kampala during the opening of the two days Pharmaceutical Quality Control Convention meeting organized by the authority said that Uganda still relies on imported drugs just because local manufacturers have failed to step up to close the gap.

Abiaz adds that the BUBU initiative cannot be developed in the drug sector if local manufacturers still produce poor quality products that force the public to opt for imported drugs.

He however disclosed the two days pharmaceutical meeting is aimed at equipping local drug manufacturers with new skills that will enable them to match with the changing technology of drug production.

Meanwhile, Dr Aisha Bukenya, a Pharmacist from Mavid Pharmaceutical industries Limited said that the government must allocate funds to help local Pharmaceutical manufacturers to improve on their work to close the gap of importation.