Mulago Hospital destroys expired drugs
Jun 15, 2011
DRUGS worth millions of shillings were on Monday destroyed at Mulago Hospital in Kampala.The drugs expired within the stores of the national referral hospital.
By AGNES NANTAMBI
DRUGS worth millions of shillings were on Monday destroyed at Mulago Hospital in Kampala.The drugs expired within the stores of the national referral hospital.
Security was tightened as authorities attempted to prevent journalist from accessing the expired drugs.
Sources within the hospital attributed the loss to donors and some pharmacies in Kampala, who donate drugs after realising that they have a month or two to expire.
“We have a problem of donors giving us drugs that are about to expire. At times we decide not to give it to patients because we think such medicines are toxic,†a source said.
The source added that drugs from the National Drugs Authority (NDA) were not among those to be destroyed because the distribution is done according to the need.
“NDA monitors its drugs. They cannot continue supplying when the medicine is plenty in the store,†he said.
Among the expired drugs are those banned by NDA like quinine and other medicines which require temperature monitoring.
However, the machines to maintain their temperatures are not available at the hospital.
The hospital’s public relations officer, Daniel Kimosho, confirmed the incident but said the hospital collects drugs from the stores and destroys them at the end of every financial year.
He, however, declined to disclose the value for the destroyed drugs.
Kimosho added that destroying expired drugs was one way of cleaning the hospital stores.
DRUGS worth millions of shillings were on Monday destroyed at Mulago Hospital in Kampala.The drugs expired within the stores of the national referral hospital.
Security was tightened as authorities attempted to prevent journalist from accessing the expired drugs.
Sources within the hospital attributed the loss to donors and some pharmacies in Kampala, who donate drugs after realising that they have a month or two to expire.
“We have a problem of donors giving us drugs that are about to expire. At times we decide not to give it to patients because we think such medicines are toxic,†a source said.
The source added that drugs from the National Drugs Authority (NDA) were not among those to be destroyed because the distribution is done according to the need.
“NDA monitors its drugs. They cannot continue supplying when the medicine is plenty in the store,†he said.
Among the expired drugs are those banned by NDA like quinine and other medicines which require temperature monitoring.
However, the machines to maintain their temperatures are not available at the hospital.
The hospital’s public relations officer, Daniel Kimosho, confirmed the incident but said the hospital collects drugs from the stores and destroys them at the end of every financial year.
He, however, declined to disclose the value for the destroyed drugs.
Kimosho added that destroying expired drugs was one way of cleaning the hospital stores.