Fake drugs endanger Ugandans, court told
Jun 16, 2003
A KEY witness has told court that millions of Ugandans face serious health hazards following the importation of fake anti-malarial drugs from China by the National Drug Authority (NDA)
A KEY witness has told court that millions of Ugandans face serious health hazards following the importation of fake anti-malarial drugs from China by the National Drug Authority (NDA), writes Maurice Okore.
Atanansia Kabwemire, 43, the director of drug quality control and quantity assurances, on Friday said NDA chiefs Dr. William Nganwa and Dr. John Lule endangered Ugandans’ life when they ordered for the drugs from Ningbo No. 2 Pharmaceuticals Ltd., an internationally condemned factory.
Nganwa is the NDA chairman and Lule is his executive secretary. They are on trial before the Buganda Road Court Magistrate, Susan Kanyange, for abuse of office and neglect of duty.
It is alleged they imported three containers of fake ear and eye drops, and anti-malarial drugs on September 6, 2002.
“Nganwa and Lule visited the company in May 2001 to see the conditions under which the drugs were being manufactured. This company had failed to comply with the principles of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP),†Kabwemire said.
He said the Chinese Government had also blacklisted the pharmaceutical factory after the death of seven people who used drugs manufactured by the company.
Kabwemire further said when Deus Mubangizi, the chief inspector of drugs, visited the factory on May 26, 2001, he found it was using rusted containers to store drugs.
He added that the factory also had overflowing wastebins, was flooded with dirty water because of a poor drainage system and lacked disinfectants.
The hearing was been adjourned to July 11 when Kabwemire is expected to test the drugs before the court.
Atanansia Kabwemire, 43, the director of drug quality control and quantity assurances, on Friday said NDA chiefs Dr. William Nganwa and Dr. John Lule endangered Ugandans’ life when they ordered for the drugs from Ningbo No. 2 Pharmaceuticals Ltd., an internationally condemned factory.
Nganwa is the NDA chairman and Lule is his executive secretary. They are on trial before the Buganda Road Court Magistrate, Susan Kanyange, for abuse of office and neglect of duty.
It is alleged they imported three containers of fake ear and eye drops, and anti-malarial drugs on September 6, 2002.
“Nganwa and Lule visited the company in May 2001 to see the conditions under which the drugs were being manufactured. This company had failed to comply with the principles of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP),†Kabwemire said.
He said the Chinese Government had also blacklisted the pharmaceutical factory after the death of seven people who used drugs manufactured by the company.
Kabwemire further said when Deus Mubangizi, the chief inspector of drugs, visited the factory on May 26, 2001, he found it was using rusted containers to store drugs.
He added that the factory also had overflowing wastebins, was flooded with dirty water because of a poor drainage system and lacked disinfectants.
The hearing was been adjourned to July 11 when Kabwemire is expected to test the drugs before the court.