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The Government, through the health ministry, is set to introduce the Gs 1 Coding System that is expected to be used to eliminate the importation of fake drugs.

Health Ministry Assistant Commissioner Health Services in charge of pharmaceutical supply chain and logistics Dr Martha Grace Ajulong made the revelation on Thursday, February 15, 2024, while speaking ahead of the 3d Pharma and Health Care International Expo.

The expo is slated to take place at Lugogo in Kampala from February 22-24, 2024.

According to Ajulong, the GS 1 Coding System will help the ministry to effectively monitor all the drugs being imported to ensure that they meet international health standards.

Fake medicines

Counterfeit and substandard drugs can provoke mutations that resist real medicines. Fake medicines, including Postinor and Quinine, have previously been found on the market, according to the National Drug Authority (NDA). Postinor is a morning-after emergency contraceptive pill indicated for use within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse while quinine is an antimalarial drug.

Invest in technology

Dr Wilberfoce Kabweru from the Uganda Medical Association asked the Government to invest much more in technology to enable medical workers to effectively do their jobs using technology.