By Joyce Namutebi
and Catherine Bekunda

PARLIAMENT has recommended that sh36b earmarked to purchase anti-retrovirals (ARVs) be re-allocated to other pressing government programmes.

According to the budget committee report for the 2009/2010 financial year, a total of sh76b was earmarked for ARVs.

The MPs had recommended that the money be used to purchase ARVs and anti-malarials from Quality Chemicals, a local firm that manufactures the life-prolonging drugs in Uganda.

“The production capacity of the company was far below that provision,” the report presented by the committee chairperson, Rose Akol, said.

“The committee recommends that only sh40b be allocated for the purchase of medicine from the factory and importation on a quid pro quo basis,” the MPs said, arguing that only sh38b had been spent on the drugs in the 2008/09 financial year.

The MPs expressed concern that the drugs produced locally were more costly than imported ones.

They also recommended that the Quality Chemicals be accredited by the World Health Organisation and licensed by the National Drug Authority to ensure quality medicine.