Uganda National Drug Authority

National Drug Authority statement on conduct of Clinical Trials during the COVID-19 lock down

Press conference on the Operation on pharmacies & drug shops in south eastern Region -17th TO 28th May, 2021

Districts: Bugiri, Namayingo, Namutumba, Bugweri, Kamuli, Kaliro, Luuka, Buyende, Mayuge, Buikwe, Kayunga, Jinja, and Iganga.

Highlights

Drug outlets inspected/visited – 567

Clinics ( 16 ), Pharmacies (5), veterinary (18), and human ( 528 ).

Of the inspected drug outlets

178 were licensed

172 were in the process of renewing 2021 operational licenses

277 closed.
298 boxes of drugs impounded estimated at UGX 44,700,000 .

Arrests effected - 1

GoU drugs recovered from 3 drug shops

NDA recovered 31 unregistered brands of drugs from 24 uninspected/banned facilities.

129,885 units of smuggled products estimated at UGX. 260m, were recovered from 112 pharmacies. The suppliers wanted to take advantage of the COVID lockdown, but NDA curtailed the move.

"In FY 2019- 2020, we recovered 165,720 units of recalled products estimated at UGx.330m in addition to falsified products impounded from 36 pharmacies" said Dr. Nasser Lubowa.

Two suspects, Karago Joseph and Kamate Jackies were apprehended in possession of suspected stolen drugs.
They were arraigned before Court and charged for unlawful possession of Government stores, and unlawful possession of classified drugs.

NDA with Uganda Police & other security agencies held an operation around New Taxi Park where drugs mostly Lumartem Tablets & Metronidazole Tablets labelled “Government of Uganda, Not For Sale” were recovered, worth UGX 30 million.

NDA is grateful to Dr Catherine Oakes and Dr. Loice Kikwai, a team of international consultants with vast experience in the pharmaceutical regulatory arena, for having agreed to perform an independent self-assessment of the NDA inspectorate function in preparation for PIC/S accession.

NDA undertakes a Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S) pre-assessment audit of its inspectorate system to determine its level of preparedness for the on-site audit by the PIC/S auditors.

The two weeks assessment by a team of experts from Europe will review NDA's inspectorate quality management systems, quality control laboratory and pharmacovigilance systems. The experts will also observe NDA GMP inspectors conduct GMP inspections in order to establish their competence and technical knowledge.

Pharmacovigilance sensitization of Village Health Teams and peer leaders in Nsambya, Kampala

Dr. David Serukka the Senior Research Associate and Guest of honor gives recognized participants certificates for the development of the assessment and Training Package for the Occupation of Herbalists.

Director Inspectorate & Enforcement services National Drug Authority, Mr Denis Mwesigwa stated that the training package will help address the challenges herbalists & NDA face like lack of skilled work force, information, poor packaging materials and unethical advertising among others. This was all during the launch of assessment & training packages for the occupation of herbalists at Imperial Royale Hotel this morning