NDA improves access to quality healthcare
Jul 03, 2019
Medicines are some of the most regulated commodities globally as they impact both human and animal health
Last Thursday, all roads led to Hotel Africana in Kampala as the National Drug Authority (NDA) celebrated 25 years of service to Ugandans. The dinner, which attracted the who is who in both human and animal health, was also attended by health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, who was the chief guest.
"We are having this celebration dinner, as a mark of the great achievements, partnerships and contribution of NDA to essential health and related services, which promotes a healthy and productive life of our population," Dr Medard Bitekyerezo, the NDA board chairperson, said.
"It is a great landmark that NDA, as a government regulatory agency, has evolved into one of the most recognised drug authorities in Africa. NDA has international recognitions like the World Health Organisation prequalification, ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, ISO/IEC 9001:2015 certification and is a centre of excellence for good manufacturing practice among the East African Community member states," Bitekyerezo added.
NATIONAL DRUG AUTHORITY
David Nahamya, the acting secretary to the authority, said 25 years is a major milestone for an organisation, as it is for an individual. "Our celebration is a solemnoccasion to pause and look at this 25-year journey. It is a moment to look at the mountains that we mustclimb and pay homage to the founders of this organisation that started with only seven people as staff," Nahamya said.
NDA has put in place mechanisms to control fake pharmaceutical products on the market. Some of these are the mandatory testing of condoms and gloves, among others
The authority was established in 1993 by the National Drug Policy and Authority Statute, which in 2000 became the National Drug Policy and Authority (NDP/A) Act, Cap. 206 of the laws of Uganda (2000 edition). The entity is mandated to ensure the availability, at all times, of essential, efficacious and cost-effective drugs to the entire population of Uganda, as a means of providing satisfactory healthcare and safeguarding the appropriate use of drugs.
Dr Bitekyerezo attributed the achievement to the great support from President Yoweri Museveni, ministers who have worked in the health ministry, technical teams and development partners, among others. He also extended his appreciation to the current and previous drug authority members that have worked tirelessly in guiding the operations of NDA, despite several challenges. "The current and previous staff of NDA are equally heroes," Bitekyerezo said.
JOINT MEDICAL STORES
The celebrations started last year, with the donation of 160 units of blood and continued this year with regional stakeholder engagements, as well as a free medical care camp in Kamuli district. Government objective Aceng said it is the Government's objective to ensure that all Ugandans andtheir livestock live a healthy life and have access to quality healthcare. Aceng said the Government has been striving to improve efficiency in health service delivery to the public, where NDA is one of the implementing agencies.
NDA officers displaying some of the government drugs found in private drug shops during an operation by the drug authority. Government drugs are meant to be free
"Medicines are some of the most regulated commodities globally as they impact both human and animal health," Aceng said. "There is increasing public demand for medicines regulation to ensure that safe, effective and quality drugs are accessed. It is because of this that NDA has had to evolve to meet this public demand," she added.
Aceng added that the Government has invested a lot of resources in medicines regulation on an everincreasing scale to ensure that the population (human and animal) continues to have progressively better health outcomes. "Medicines remain one of the critical inputs for the Government to deliver quality health services to its population and increased animal production," she said.
NATIONAL MEDICAL STORES
Aceng also thanked NDA for its continued effort in harnessing new information technologies to reach out to the masses with health information, like the NDA management information system, social media platforms and print and electronic media.
She, however, urged on the organisation to ensure that the information is accurate, balanced and beneficial to the public. On the criticism that the organisation regularly receives, Aceng said just like other national regulatory authorities in the world, criticism comes from the increased public demand for quality public healthcare, to which NDA contributes through the execution of its mandate. She said she was glad NDA is taking the criticisms positively by making strides to meet public expectations.