Kampala — THE Government will spend $600m (about sh1.1 trillion) to renovate hospitals and health centres, the Minister of Health, Dr. Stephen Mallinga, has said. Mallinga said the money will be used to upgrade the health facilities to cater for the increased demand for services.

"There have been numerous complaints from districts that health centres and hospitals need rehabilitation. This is why the Government has decided to get a loan from the World Bank to fund this project," he said.

The minister said this on Thursday at Bujuni in Kibaale district while launching the first Accredited Drug Shops pilot project in the country financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

He said the President had authorised the ministry to get the loan. The Government set strategies to provide monthly purchase orders of drugs, Mallinga added, saying this would ensure constant drug supply to health centres.

"As a ministry, we have resolved that 70% of the money directed for purchases of drugs at the district level be sent directly to National Medical Stores to avoid buying drugs from expensive sellers, leading to shortages at the health centres," he said.

Mallinga said the programme will address wrong drug prescription and fake drugs. He thanked the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for supporting the Government to ensure the quality of drugs especially in rural areas.

The minister pledged to help in the procurement process of an ambulance for Kagadi Hospital which serves over three districts.

The executive secretary of the National Drug Authority (NDA), Apollo Muhairwe, said the accredited drug shops project had strengthened the NDA's partnerships with the local government, drug shop operators and owners.

Muhairwe added that they had trained over 205 drug shop attendants in pharmaceutical management and care. The district chairperson, George Namyaka, said they would devote more resources to ensure the success of the project.

The Accredited Drug Shops project is being implemented in Kibaale and Mpigi districts.