Hospice Uganda starts producing morphine
HOSPICE Africa Uganda, a local NGO, has started producing oral morphine, a drug used to manage severe pain for patients with chronic illness.
By Taddeo Bwambale
HOSPICE Africa Uganda, a local NGO, has started producing oral morphine, a drug used to manage severe pain for patients with chronic illness.
Morphine is derived from opium, a narcotic drug extracted from a plant known as opium poppy, (Papaver somniferum), whose use other than for clinical purposes is banned in several countries.
The Morphine Production Unit based at the organisation’s head offices in Makindye, a Kampala suburb, is responsible for producing the drug for use in hospice centres countrywide.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by the organisation’s clinical director, Dr. Eddie Mwebesa, after a tour of the facility by a delegation from the British High Commission.
According to Mwebesa, the unit imports the opium in powder form from Scotland, transforms it into liquid and packs it, before sending the batches to the National Medical Stores and the church-funded Joint Medical Stores.
Previously, oral morphine was produced by the National Drug Authority.
Mwebesa said the organisation was chosen to produce the drug for the country because of its track record, quality control systems and ability to work with public and private health institutions.
The use of morphine for clinical purposes has been a long subject of debate among health experts, with some arguing that it is addictive and has several side effects.
But Mwebesa said the drug was harmless if taken in moderation and with guidance.
He also said there were plans to develop affordable doses to cater for the rising demand.
Oral morphine was introduced in 1993 in Uganda when palliative medicine was introduced by Hospice Africa.
Hospice Uganda was established in Uganda in 1993 by Dr. Anne Merrimanto to offer palliative care for patients with critical illness.
HOSPICE Africa Uganda, a local NGO, has started producing oral morphine, a drug used to manage severe pain for patients with chronic illness.
Morphine is derived from opium, a narcotic drug extracted from a plant known as opium poppy, (Papaver somniferum), whose use other than for clinical purposes is banned in several countries.
The Morphine Production Unit based at the organisation’s head offices in Makindye, a Kampala suburb, is responsible for producing the drug for use in hospice centres countrywide.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by the organisation’s clinical director, Dr. Eddie Mwebesa, after a tour of the facility by a delegation from the British High Commission.
According to Mwebesa, the unit imports the opium in powder form from Scotland, transforms it into liquid and packs it, before sending the batches to the National Medical Stores and the church-funded Joint Medical Stores.
Previously, oral morphine was produced by the National Drug Authority.
Mwebesa said the organisation was chosen to produce the drug for the country because of its track record, quality control systems and ability to work with public and private health institutions.
The use of morphine for clinical purposes has been a long subject of debate among health experts, with some arguing that it is addictive and has several side effects.
But Mwebesa said the drug was harmless if taken in moderation and with guidance.
He also said there were plans to develop affordable doses to cater for the rising demand.
Oral morphine was introduced in 1993 in Uganda when palliative medicine was introduced by Hospice Africa.
Hospice Uganda was established in Uganda in 1993 by Dr. Anne Merrimanto to offer palliative care for patients with critical illness.