E-drug: Control of drug handling
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Dear e-druggers,
Currently Uganda is actively involved in trying to find practical and
sustainable ways to combat various forms of unauthorized drug
handling in the country, particularly in the private sector.
Amongst the most prevalent and problematic activities are rampant
unauthorized dispensing of medicines by medical practitioners in health
clinics and widespread unauthorized prescribing and sale of supposedly
prescription-only medicines by pharmacists and dispensers in
pharmacies and drug shops respectively.
This produces many undesirable side-effects:
a) conflict between the medical and pharmaceutical professions
because of mutual encroachment in each others professional activities
b) conflict of interest in each profession because of failure to separate
prescribing and dispensing activities
c) poor quality of service and consequent increased risk to patients
because of the predominance of commercial interests over professional
services
In response to these (and other) problems involving drug handling, a
number of activities are being undertaken or proposals being developed
including:
1. Complete overhaul and updating of relevant medicines legislation
which has become increasingly obsolete and deficient
2. Review and revision of related medicines schedules (eg. CD, POM,
P, GSL, etc)
3. Introduction of an Emergency Drug List - a list of medicines and
maximum quantities of each which may be stocked (ie. NOT
stockpiled) by clinics to cover a defined list of emergency conditions
4. Introduction of special Dispensing Licences for clinics in defined
(gazetted) underserved areas to be able to prescribe AND dispense
medicines outside the Emergency Drug List according to strict
criteria relating to dispensing services facilities, staffing and
operation
5. Improved monitoring and inspection of clinics, pharmacies and drug
shops to ensure adequate quality of service and adherence to
professional guidelines and ethical practices
6. Reform and strengthening of the medicines regulatory agency (the
National Drug Authority)
7. Strengthening and support of the health professional councils (eg.
Pharmacy Council Uganda Medical & Dental Practitioners Council,
Allied Health Professionals Council, etc) and increased
inter-professional collaboration in dealing with issues of mutual
interest (eg. handling and use of medicines)
In order to guide our further efforts in these areas, we would be most
grateful to receive information on policies and measures which have
been successfully introduced and effectively implemented in other
countries, particularly (but not exclusively) in Africa.
Chris Forshaw
Danida Pharmaceutical Adviser
Uganda Health Sector Programme Support
Ministry of Health
c/o Royal Danish Embassy
PO Box 11243, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: (+256) 77 76 01 76 (mobile)
Tel/fax: (+256) 41 34 37 50 (residence)
chris.uhssp@utlonline.co.ug
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