East African Gazette
Kampala
The Minister of Health, Ruth Achieng has revealed the World Health Organization (WHO) has given Africa the opportunity to set up pharmaceutical industries and shift focusing on importing alone.
Achieng said many of you may be aware that the international community, WHO and GAVI are now focusing on local manufacturing. The GAVI has put $1 million to any manufacturing willing to manufacture vaccines locally in Africa.
She reminded the people regarding the Covid 19 vaccines, though people had the money no commodities would not reach Africa. Many of the foreign countries thought about themselves first but we had very limited manufacturing companies.
She alluded that it is time to develop local manufacturing in the country and that is the way to go.
We appreciated all the local manufacturing and attended the 3rd Uganda International Pharmaceutical trade fair at Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) 22 Feb 2024.
She said WHO globally has agreed to buy test kits made in Africa. Government is going to amend the law regarding National Drug Authority (NDA) law for all your products to be registered very first and the NDA should support the local manufacturer to have this implemented.
“We are amending the NDA for all your products to be registered and local products to be supported. Even the nightmare we used to go through to attain WHO pre-qualification is now being considered as a waiver as long as the country of manufacturing has approved drugs” she said.
She added,” So this is a good incentive to set up the manufacturing for our people”.
Under the National Development 3 one of the priories considered the manufacturing industry and pharmaceutical will be considered for the National development 4 because NDP 3 coming to the end in 2025 June. We shall still carry on our priority of manufacturing in NDP.
She urged all the exhibitors to share information to create business and take advantage of the opportunities available.
She acknowledged the Indian government that has always supported Africa in Pharmaceutical, Uganda in particular but also the health sector.
This engagement will aid in technology transfer and foster social economic development for the country, she said.
The Executive Director UMA, Dr Ezra Muhumuza thanked the government for coming up with such an initiative of amplifying the local content. We thanked the government for listening to our call which has always been making development of the local content so that ye can be maintained.
Though we have challenges, we are working with the government to increase research of the local resources we use and we want the government to ensure the local approach is not lost.
The health sector cuts across and it requires rapid engagement and we are to hear that funds are available too. He alluded that Local solutions are not normally of poor quality and we encourage stop the old thinking these medicines are produced with quality certifications of international standards.
He said during this 3rd exhibition 125 exhibitors and over 4000 visitors from Uganda are anticipated EAC.
Local participants attending from Uganda
This exhibition is being supported by the Allied Health professional council, Dental Association of Uganda, Orthopedic association of Uganda, Uganda Medical Association, and UMA.
Why this exhibition is held
This three-day expo will provide an immense opportunity to capture the untapped market of the East African region through Uganda. The show is jointly organized by the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda Private Sector (PSU), exhibitions and Trade services India private limited.
The exhibitor will exhibit some of the new technologies and share information available in the health sector.
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