NDA using portable labs
Aug 14, 2009
The National Drug Authority (NDA) has acquired mini lab kits to boost their fight against counterfeit medicines.<br>
By Moses Mugalu
The National Drug Authority (NDA) has acquired mini lab kits to boost their fight against counterfeit medicines.
The GPHF kits are mobile, easy-to-carry lab boxes, which NDA field officers use to carry out instant tests on any suspected counterfeit medicines found in drug outlets.
Established by an Act of Parliament Chapter 206 (Laws of Uganda, 2000), NDA is the Government drug regulatory agency. It regulates drug manufacturing and importation of quality human and veterinary medicines and other health related products in the country.
Fredrick Ssekyana, the public relations officer of NDA, says they have stepped up post-market surveillance to ensure drug users get safe medicines in the face of rampant counterfeit drugs saturated in many drug outlets.
Ssekyana discloses that NDA’s post-market surveillance campaign has had a big boost, thanks to GPHF mini lab kits.
Currently, NDA has five GPHF mini labs spread throughout the country’s regional offices in Mbarara, Tororo, Arua, Hoima and Jinja.
Peter Ssali, a senior drug quality analyst at the NDA lab in Mulago, describes the mini lab kits as NDA’s ‘field-based fight against counterfeit drugs’.
“They (lab kits) are equipped with all the reagents for our officers to do instant tests in the field to determine the identification and active ingredients in any medicines,†Ssali explains.
“For the last two years we have identified counterfeit and sub-standard medicines quickly and take action.â€
Each kit costs $8000 (about sh16m), minus the reagents, which cost about $20000 (sh40m) for a year’s supply.
To secure the five kits, NDA got financial aid from USAID, who are offering training, equipment and logistical support to the agency.
According to Ssali, NDA is expecting to acquire four more GPHF mini lab kits by the end of this financial year.
“Our enforcement resources will be more effective with nine mini lab kits out there in the field,†Ssali re-assures.
He says NDA officers, who include district assistant drug inspectors found at every district headquarters, carry out random surveys to verify medicines on the market.
Under normal procedures, all drugs imported into the country are inspected and approved by NDA inspectors after ascertaining their quality and safety.
According to the law, drug manufacturers must provide NDA with product dossiers, which give details about packaging, ingredients and colours of the original medicine to be sold on Ugandan the market.
However, Ssali acknowledges smuggling remains the other big avenue through which counterfeit drugs are brought into the country.
There are also counterfeiters who imitate widely used medicines by packing fake substances in almost similar packs to those of original manufacturers. “These ones normally do it within their private premises and are unlicensed,†says Ssali.
Anti-biotics, anti-malaria and lifestyle drugs are the most widely counterfeited medicines in Uganda.
“It is a very lucrative business because the user cannot differentiate them from the genuine ones,†says Ssali.
Experts say 60 % of all cases are in developing countries.
Between 6-10% of the medicines on the world market is counterfeit with estimated sales of over $35b every year.
Ssekyana urges the public to buy drugs, always seek prescription from medical professionals and buy medicines from NDA licensed pharmacies or drug shops.
He says NDA works closely with Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council, Uganda Media Council and the Uganda Broadcasting Council to guard the public against quacks, herbalists or traditional medicine healers.
“NDA remains committed to ensuring that only safe and quality medicines are available for use in Uganda,†Ssekyana says adding that traditional healers/herbalists remain one of the big challenges to the agency’s work.
“We appreciate the contribution of traditional/herbal medicines but of recent there have been very many unscrupulous people fleecing the unsuspecting public through advertising on the radios and use of other means,†says Ssekyana.
He adds that in so doing, herbalists contravene the National Drug Policy and Authority Act (Cap 206) Section 33 that prohibits medicines advertisement.
The National Drug Authority (NDA) has acquired mini lab kits to boost their fight against counterfeit medicines.
The GPHF kits are mobile, easy-to-carry lab boxes, which NDA field officers use to carry out instant tests on any suspected counterfeit medicines found in drug outlets.
Established by an Act of Parliament Chapter 206 (Laws of Uganda, 2000), NDA is the Government drug regulatory agency. It regulates drug manufacturing and importation of quality human and veterinary medicines and other health related products in the country.
Fredrick Ssekyana, the public relations officer of NDA, says they have stepped up post-market surveillance to ensure drug users get safe medicines in the face of rampant counterfeit drugs saturated in many drug outlets.
Ssekyana discloses that NDA’s post-market surveillance campaign has had a big boost, thanks to GPHF mini lab kits.
Currently, NDA has five GPHF mini labs spread throughout the country’s regional offices in Mbarara, Tororo, Arua, Hoima and Jinja.
Peter Ssali, a senior drug quality analyst at the NDA lab in Mulago, describes the mini lab kits as NDA’s ‘field-based fight against counterfeit drugs’.
“They (lab kits) are equipped with all the reagents for our officers to do instant tests in the field to determine the identification and active ingredients in any medicines,†Ssali explains.
“For the last two years we have identified counterfeit and sub-standard medicines quickly and take action.â€
Each kit costs $8000 (about sh16m), minus the reagents, which cost about $20000 (sh40m) for a year’s supply.
To secure the five kits, NDA got financial aid from USAID, who are offering training, equipment and logistical support to the agency.
According to Ssali, NDA is expecting to acquire four more GPHF mini lab kits by the end of this financial year.
“Our enforcement resources will be more effective with nine mini lab kits out there in the field,†Ssali re-assures.
He says NDA officers, who include district assistant drug inspectors found at every district headquarters, carry out random surveys to verify medicines on the market.
Under normal procedures, all drugs imported into the country are inspected and approved by NDA inspectors after ascertaining their quality and safety.
According to the law, drug manufacturers must provide NDA with product dossiers, which give details about packaging, ingredients and colours of the original medicine to be sold on Ugandan the market.
However, Ssali acknowledges smuggling remains the other big avenue through which counterfeit drugs are brought into the country.
There are also counterfeiters who imitate widely used medicines by packing fake substances in almost similar packs to those of original manufacturers. “These ones normally do it within their private premises and are unlicensed,†says Ssali.
Anti-biotics, anti-malaria and lifestyle drugs are the most widely counterfeited medicines in Uganda.
“It is a very lucrative business because the user cannot differentiate them from the genuine ones,†says Ssali.
Experts say 60 % of all cases are in developing countries.
Between 6-10% of the medicines on the world market is counterfeit with estimated sales of over $35b every year.
Ssekyana urges the public to buy drugs, always seek prescription from medical professionals and buy medicines from NDA licensed pharmacies or drug shops.
He says NDA works closely with Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council, Uganda Media Council and the Uganda Broadcasting Council to guard the public against quacks, herbalists or traditional medicine healers.
“NDA remains committed to ensuring that only safe and quality medicines are available for use in Uganda,†Ssekyana says adding that traditional healers/herbalists remain one of the big challenges to the agency’s work.
“We appreciate the contribution of traditional/herbal medicines but of recent there have been very many unscrupulous people fleecing the unsuspecting public through advertising on the radios and use of other means,†says Ssekyana.
He adds that in so doing, herbalists contravene the National Drug Policy and Authority Act (Cap 206) Section 33 that prohibits medicines advertisement.