Anthony Bugembe and Charles Ariko
1 September 2008
Kampala — THE shortage of Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs in the country could be worse than earlier reported, according to the stock status of the health ministry's Anti-Retroviral Therapy programme.
As of August 19, there were no stocks for the life-prolonging AIDS drugs at the ministry.
A total of 66,950 patients are on the programme and of these, 2,498 are children.
Martin Oteba, the acting assistant commissioner for health services in charge of pharmaceuticals, last evening told The New Vision that they had placed orders for more drugs from Quality Chemicals.
"One of the directors informed me that the drugs are already in the country awaiting clearance at the airport. Most likely, they will be delivered tomorrow (today)," he said.
Last month, the Government ordered for ARVs worth $1.8m (sh3b) from Quality Chemicals.
The company based in Luzira, a Kampala suburb, entered a joint venture with CIPLA, a leading Indian pharmaceutical firm, to produce the drugs and sell them at subsidised rates.
Other consignments of ARVs are expected from UNICEF, the Global Fund and the Clinton Foundation.
The ministry will require $180,000 (sh293m) to clear, store and distribute the donated drugs.
This financial year, the Government set aside sh60b to purchase the AIDS drugs.
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