GOVERNMENT TO COLLECT AND DISPOSE OFF EXPIRED AND UNWANTED MEDICINES FROM HEALTH FACILITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine and the NMS General Manager, Mr. Moses Kamabare at the press briefing.

The Ministry of Health has embarked on a drive to collect and dispose off expired and obsolete pharmaceutical from 6,619 health facilities in Uganda, both Government owned and Public Not For Profit.

This process will create more space for adequate storage of drugs delivered by National Medical Stores (NMS), and prevent the risk of; public health hazards and pilferage, and relabelling as a result of keeping such items in health facilities for  long. Expired pharmaceuticals are a growing concern in the country and can also result into a risk to national security.

It is naturally expected that about 5% of pharmaceuticals in the distribution chain is bound to end up as obsolete or expired. The last time such a massive exercise was carried out was in 2012. Currently, the estimated quantities of expired medicines all over the country are believed to be about 1,200 to 1,500 tons.

 A collaborative approach has been put in place between National Drug Authority (NDA), National Medical Stores (NMS), Joint Medical Stores (JMS) and Ministry of Health (MoH) towards successful implementation and execution of this exercise, as follows: