Health centres now get drugs in five days
Sep 26, 2011
THE distribution cycle of government drugs to rural areas has reduced from 30 to five days, according to the latest annual report on drug distribution demand trends.
By Edward Anyoli
THE distribution cycle of government drugs to rural areas has reduced from 30 to five days, according to the latest annual report on drug distribution demand trends.
The improvement follows a partnership by the National Medical Stores (NMS) and Daks Couriers, a company that undertook the distribution and storage of the drugs.
The NMS corporation secretary, Apollo Mwesigye, said the new delivery system had minimised the loss of medicines in the distribution chain.
“The system has improved service delivery to the lower health centres and we have no regret whatsoever for the move we undertook to engage Daks,†Mwesigye said.
Dubbed the last mile distribution of medicine, the system was a presidential initiative following regular complaints of lack of drugs at the remotest health centres in the rural areas. President Yoweri Museveni made a directive that medicines should be delivered directly to health centres to avoid drug loss and delays.
“We cover all health centres in five days. In the past, the distribution cycle took about 30 days, but this has changed,†said David Kasingwire, the managing director of Daks Couriers.
THE distribution cycle of government drugs to rural areas has reduced from 30 to five days, according to the latest annual report on drug distribution demand trends.
The improvement follows a partnership by the National Medical Stores (NMS) and Daks Couriers, a company that undertook the distribution and storage of the drugs.
The NMS corporation secretary, Apollo Mwesigye, said the new delivery system had minimised the loss of medicines in the distribution chain.
“The system has improved service delivery to the lower health centres and we have no regret whatsoever for the move we undertook to engage Daks,†Mwesigye said.
Dubbed the last mile distribution of medicine, the system was a presidential initiative following regular complaints of lack of drugs at the remotest health centres in the rural areas. President Yoweri Museveni made a directive that medicines should be delivered directly to health centres to avoid drug loss and delays.
“We cover all health centres in five days. In the past, the distribution cycle took about 30 days, but this has changed,†said David Kasingwire, the managing director of Daks Couriers.