New drug supply system to start
Feb 17, 2010
THE health ministry is to launch a new system of distributing medicines to health centres.
By Francis Kagolo
THE health ministry is to launch a new system of distributing medicines to health centres.
The National Medical Stores (NMS) will be charged with delivering drugs to districts without prior orders from the respective health units as has been the case.
The health state minister, Richard Nduhura, said this will ensure availability of drugs in health centres throughout the year and cut down on deaths.
“We are going to routinely distribute drugs that are most commonly needed in particular areas,†the minister revealed after a meeting with NMS bosses and touring their stores in Entebbe on Tuesday.
The system is also expected to avert expiry of drugs in stores, a problem that has attracted a lot of public criticism in the recent years.
Nduhura said the ministry’s management committee will sit next Tuesday to pass the change in the policy.
In 2009, the Government began sending 70% of the funds for drugs to NMS. The next financial year, the Government intends to send all the money to the medical stores.
But there has been public outcry over unavailability of drugs, including antiretrovirals (ARVs) in most facilities. Most affected areas include Hoima, Katakwi, Mityana and Lira.
Nduhura was shocked to discover that the agency had stocked enough drugs to last the entire country for up to eight months.
“There are enough drugs but our people are dying because they can’t get free drugs in public hospitals. You are keeping gloves and Mama kits, yet women in labour are forced to buy their own,†he said.
NMS chief Moses Kamabare disclosed that the stores could not deliver drugs to health centres because their administrators failed to make orders.
“To order for drugs, one must quantify what his health centre needs depending on the disease in their area. This knowledge is not given to nursing and clinical officers,†he said.
He said the agency procured ARVs worth sh10b from Quality Chemicals last month besides that got from the Global Fund. But due to lack of technical knowledge, most health units missed out on getting such medicines, he added.
THE health ministry is to launch a new system of distributing medicines to health centres.
The National Medical Stores (NMS) will be charged with delivering drugs to districts without prior orders from the respective health units as has been the case.
The health state minister, Richard Nduhura, said this will ensure availability of drugs in health centres throughout the year and cut down on deaths.
“We are going to routinely distribute drugs that are most commonly needed in particular areas,†the minister revealed after a meeting with NMS bosses and touring their stores in Entebbe on Tuesday.
The system is also expected to avert expiry of drugs in stores, a problem that has attracted a lot of public criticism in the recent years.
Nduhura said the ministry’s management committee will sit next Tuesday to pass the change in the policy.
In 2009, the Government began sending 70% of the funds for drugs to NMS. The next financial year, the Government intends to send all the money to the medical stores.
But there has been public outcry over unavailability of drugs, including antiretrovirals (ARVs) in most facilities. Most affected areas include Hoima, Katakwi, Mityana and Lira.
Nduhura was shocked to discover that the agency had stocked enough drugs to last the entire country for up to eight months.
“There are enough drugs but our people are dying because they can’t get free drugs in public hospitals. You are keeping gloves and Mama kits, yet women in labour are forced to buy their own,†he said.
NMS chief Moses Kamabare disclosed that the stores could not deliver drugs to health centres because their administrators failed to make orders.
“To order for drugs, one must quantify what his health centre needs depending on the disease in their area. This knowledge is not given to nursing and clinical officers,†he said.
He said the agency procured ARVs worth sh10b from Quality Chemicals last month besides that got from the Global Fund. But due to lack of technical knowledge, most health units missed out on getting such medicines, he added.