Luzira AIDS drug plant cleared
Jul 29, 2009
QUALITY Chemicals Industries has been cleared to manufacture AIDS and malaria drugs, according to a report. Auditors from the International Committee of the Red Cross approved the Luzira-based factory following WHO-recommended good manufacturing practice
By Anthony Bugembe
and Elvis Basudde
QUALITY Chemicals Industries has been cleared to manufacture AIDS and malaria drugs, according to a report.
Auditors from the International Committee of the Red Cross approved the Luzira-based factory following WHO-recommended good manufacturing practices in March.
The team suggested that the factory be approved for the regional supply of antiretrovirals (ARVs) and anti-malarials, a May 2009 report reads.
The auditors said the factory’s storage and manufacturing facilities were clean and satisfactorily designed.
“Air handling units were correctly designed as was the water treatment system. However, the staff will have to focus on current maintenance of the facilities and equipment to keep them in their current state,†the auditors said.
They added that the firm was expected to become a reliable supplier of drugs to the Red Cross in Uganda and Kenya.
The audit was aimed at assessing the quality of the ARVs and anti-malarial tablets manufactured by the firm.
“The Red Cross audit report is good news for us. We are in advanced stages of submitting our application to the WHO to invite them to inspect our plant with the view of pre-qualifying it for good manufacturing practices,†said Frederick Mutebi Kitaka, the factory director.
“Over time, Quality Chemicals will be one of the cheapest companies providing world standard quality products at third world prices.â€
Currently, the factory only supplies the Government.
Kitaka said once the firm is cleared, they would supply international markets and programmes like the Global Fund and PEPFAR.
Uganda is reported to be running out of ARVs with some major service providers closing down treatment sites and not enrolling new clients.
Out of about 1.3 million Ugandans living with HIV, 350,000 require treatment but only 170,000 access it.
The AIDS Control programme manager, Zainab Akol, attributed the shortage to increased demand for treatment.
and Elvis Basudde
QUALITY Chemicals Industries has been cleared to manufacture AIDS and malaria drugs, according to a report.
Auditors from the International Committee of the Red Cross approved the Luzira-based factory following WHO-recommended good manufacturing practices in March.
The team suggested that the factory be approved for the regional supply of antiretrovirals (ARVs) and anti-malarials, a May 2009 report reads.
The auditors said the factory’s storage and manufacturing facilities were clean and satisfactorily designed.
“Air handling units were correctly designed as was the water treatment system. However, the staff will have to focus on current maintenance of the facilities and equipment to keep them in their current state,†the auditors said.
They added that the firm was expected to become a reliable supplier of drugs to the Red Cross in Uganda and Kenya.
The audit was aimed at assessing the quality of the ARVs and anti-malarial tablets manufactured by the firm.
“The Red Cross audit report is good news for us. We are in advanced stages of submitting our application to the WHO to invite them to inspect our plant with the view of pre-qualifying it for good manufacturing practices,†said Frederick Mutebi Kitaka, the factory director.
“Over time, Quality Chemicals will be one of the cheapest companies providing world standard quality products at third world prices.â€
Currently, the factory only supplies the Government.
Kitaka said once the firm is cleared, they would supply international markets and programmes like the Global Fund and PEPFAR.
Uganda is reported to be running out of ARVs with some major service providers closing down treatment sites and not enrolling new clients.
Out of about 1.3 million Ugandans living with HIV, 350,000 require treatment but only 170,000 access it.
The AIDS Control programme manager, Zainab Akol, attributed the shortage to increased demand for treatment.