According to Abiaz Rwamwiri, the Public Relations Manager, the post-market surveillance activity is intended to protect the human and animal population from drugs and health care products that are substandard, counterfeit, unauthorized and, unqualified persons handling drugs among others.

By the close of the operation, 281 outlets were found to have been licensed, 55 had their licenses in process, and 167 outlets including 6 pharmacies were issued closure notices due to non-compliance issues, and 336 boxes of assorted drugs were estimated at Ush. 81,250,000 were impounded, Rwamwiri said.

Tamale James William the Head Regions at the National Drug Authority has also advised all operators whose drug outlets were closed and whose drugs have been impounded to report at the NDA Kampala Extra Regional offices in Nakawa for guidance on compliance requirements.

The new licensing season for the calendar year 2022 has started and all drug operators including stakeholders are supposed to commence the renewal exercise of their licenses as soon as possible to avoid any inconveniences.

NDA has also called upon the general public to take note and report any drug outlets that do not comply with the national standards on a toll-free line 0800 101 999 to ensure that there is the safety of drugs and to continue saving lives.

Also, read;

1. NDA launches online awareness exercise
2. NDA approves COVIDEX as a supplementary treatment for COVID19
3. NDA confirms Kazire Vidicine a COVID19 remedy

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During the campaign dubbed #NDAReports, the authority will hold weekly discussions with senior technical persons from different departments on what they do, why and how it is done, and what would be at risk if the routine is not followed. 

According to Abiaz Rwamwiri, NDA’s PR Manager, the above series of activities is part of NDA’s commitment to openness and accountability to the public.

“The work we do at NDA of ensuring that the public has access to quality and safe drugs is of interest to all Ugandans and therefore the public deserves to know why and how we do it,” Rwamwiri said. 

He further noted that NDA wants the public to know why they undertake some of the steps, and also bridge the information gap through discussions that will be hosted on NDA’s YouTube channel and other social media platforms like Twitter where the public can watch, comment, share questions and concerns. Join the conversation via https://youtu.be/dFonx9Bo4Qc #NDAReports.

NDA is mandated by National Drug Policy and Authority Act Cap 206 to ensure that there is 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. The authority undertakes this critical mandate through effective regulation of the importation, production, the exportation of drugs and healthcare products.

The agency is a world-class drug regulatory authority; In 2015 and 2017 the NDA laboratory was prequalified by WHO and accredited by ANAB (USA), to ISO/IEC 17025 international standard, respectively and In January 2019 the authority acquired ISO 9001: 2015 certification after a rigorous audit of its systems and processes by the SGS United Kingdom Limited. 

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The approval comes at a time Uganda is experiencing the second wave of covid19 with over 37,000 infections and about 400 deaths registered.

Earlier this month,  the National Drug Authority (NDA) cautioned the public against using the COVIDEX drug since it had not yet undergone necessary testing emphasizing that the developer, Professor Patrick Ogwang had not subjected it to the required approvals.

Dr. David Nahamya, the Secretary NDA says that for a locally manufactured drug to be approved by the NDA, it has to go through clinical trials among other requirements and now that the herbal drug is safe following an assessment of the drug and inspections of the production facilities the public should readily be able to find it on market.

He, however, emphasized that the drug as of now should not be sold as a treatment for COVID-19 since more clinical trials are needed to substantiate claims that it can treat the disease.

“NDA has granted COVIDEX an approval based on initial assessment, published literature, and safety studies conducted by the innovator. The product has been formulated from herbal plants that have been traditionally used to alleviate symptoms of severe diseases. To further support the efficacy of the drug for other uses, the manufacturer is advised to conduct random controlled clinical trials to ascertain any claims of treatment,” Dr. Nahamya said.

According to Prof Ogwang, the product has been used by over 40 people both in the first and second waves and testimonies are that it has worked and he is willing to follow all NDA recommendations to save more lives in Uganda.

While Ogwang manufactured the drug so that it is easily accessible at 3,000 Shillings at retail, but since the time the drug was approved the price has escalated on the market averagely costing 50,000 Ugandan Shillings at the big stores and pharmacies.

If COVIDEX undergoes a study in randomized clinical trials Uganda is positioned at the front bench among the African countries in the fight against and management of the deadly COVID-19.

Pamela Achii the President of the Uganda Pharmaceutical Society and Dr. Grace Nambatya, the Director of Research at the Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Laboratory said that the remedy has the berberine plant as an active ingredient and its effectiveness has been proven in COVID-19 studies and treatments that have been done globally.

Berberine has been used in treatments for diabetes and liver disease among other related diseases.

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