Drug authority gets testing laboratories
Oct 23, 2008
THE National Drug Authority (NDA) has acquired five mini-labs and computer equipment to check fake drugs. The labs will be placed at points of entry of drugs to the country.
By Joseph Kariuki
THE National Drug Authority (NDA) has acquired five mini-labs and computer equipment to check fake drugs.
Speaking during the handover of the equipment worth $49,000 (sh88.2m) by World Health Organisation (WHO) last week, Apollo Muhairwe, the NDA executive secretary, said cases of counterfeit drugs were decreasing.
He expressed concern that fake drugs were still entering the country through porous borders.
The labs will be placed at points of entry of drugs to the country, Muhairwe said and urged the public to look out for counterfeit drugs
Dr. Joaquim Saweka, the new WHO country representative, said: “With technology today, it is easy to counterfeit drugs and you need better technology to detect the fake drugs.â€
He noted that universal access to drugs, including antiretrovirals, which has been spearheaded by the WHO, had made it difficult to regulate drugs.
Victoria Birungi, an inspector of drugs, said most of the drugs that are brought in the country with a near expiry date were donations.
“We sometimes are forced to return or destroy the drugs if we find they are expired,†she said, adding that the drug authority charges sh3,700 to destroy a kilogram of expired drugs.
THE National Drug Authority (NDA) has acquired five mini-labs and computer equipment to check fake drugs.
Speaking during the handover of the equipment worth $49,000 (sh88.2m) by World Health Organisation (WHO) last week, Apollo Muhairwe, the NDA executive secretary, said cases of counterfeit drugs were decreasing.
He expressed concern that fake drugs were still entering the country through porous borders.
The labs will be placed at points of entry of drugs to the country, Muhairwe said and urged the public to look out for counterfeit drugs
Dr. Joaquim Saweka, the new WHO country representative, said: “With technology today, it is easy to counterfeit drugs and you need better technology to detect the fake drugs.â€
He noted that universal access to drugs, including antiretrovirals, which has been spearheaded by the WHO, had made it difficult to regulate drugs.
Victoria Birungi, an inspector of drugs, said most of the drugs that are brought in the country with a near expiry date were donations.
“We sometimes are forced to return or destroy the drugs if we find they are expired,†she said, adding that the drug authority charges sh3,700 to destroy a kilogram of expired drugs.