NDA BAGS THE 2022 UGANDA RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT AWARD

Statement by Dr. David Nahamya, Secretary to the Authority

National Drug Authority (NDA) has been recognized for the second time as one of the best 2022 UGANDA RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT MARK OF EXCELLENCE AWARD by His excellence Y.K. Kaguta, President of the Republic of Uganda at the Awards event held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Saturday 3, December 2022.

The recognition of NDA’s for the Award has been due to the good performance on delivery on its core regulatory functions, among the key functions is the control and promotion of the domestic pharmaceutical industry as a means of ensuring sustainable supply of quality essential medicines to the people of Uganda.

·         We have licensed 45 domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers to improve local production, and also notified 250 herbal medicine products.

·         This growth in the domestic pharmaceutical sector contributes to the sustainable and local supply of affordable and quality essential medicines, thereby ensuring the population has immediate access to these medicines at an affordable price, while at the same time reducing the heavy reliance on importation of pharmaceuticals, and the related trade deficit imbalance and outflow of foreign currency

 

We have unreservedly promoted and supported local production of pharmaceuticals through several initiatives including; Providing technical support to local manufacturers.

Routine GMP inspections to drive continual improvement.

   Zero taxes on importation of raw materials and equipment.

   Quick market authorization of their products.

  Implementation of the BUBU policy that provides for a price competitive advantage for locally manufactured products.

·         Our support has seen improvement and increase in the number of licensed local manufacturing facilities from 14 in 2016 to 45 in 2022 (19 human products, 4 veterinary products including acaricides and veterinary vaccines, 5 herbal / therapeutic foods and 17 surgical instruments & appliances, such as gloves, medical masks and medical oxygen).

·         There are also 11 upcoming local manufacturing facilities; one of which will manufacture mRNA vaccines including Covid vaccines and other complex biologics.

This growth has led to 185 registered locally manufactured conventional (human) products and 250 local traditional medicines (herbal) which will reduce on heavy reliance on foreign imported products.

·         The facilities have provided jobs to both the skilled and casual labour job market, thereby contributing to the Government`s efforts of providing jobs and improving livelihoods of the unemployed youth.

·         The local manufacturers act as apprentice centers for the skilled professionals such as pharmacists, chemists and industrial engineers, thereby providing hands on skills development for our scientists.

Also importantly, several related local industries such as the packaging industry and other service industries also benefit from the establishment of local pharmaceutical manufacturers.

The local pharmaceutical manufacturers will further benefit from NDA international accolades achieved and infrastructure that include;

Quality Control Laboratory which is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited by ANAB, in the USA, pre-qualified by WHO, Geneva; and is; and is rated at Maturity Level 4 as per the WHO Global Benchmarking 4-tier classification of National Medicines Regulatory Agencies. This means our testing laboratory for medicines and other healthcare products is credible and internationally recognised in providing accurate test results.

ISO 9001:2015 re-certified, which demonstrates our commitment to operate under a reliable quality management system.

NDA as the center of excellence for Good Manufacturing Practice Inspection in the East African Community. This is an achievement we have maintained in pursuance to the Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention Scheme (PIC/S). This is our vision with respect to strengthening the NDA pharmaceutical inspectorate system.

Recently commissioned microbiological laboratory enables NDA competently conduct quality control tests for sterile products, thereby ensuring that only safe injectable products are on the market.

Laboratory tower under construction will enhance the capacity and range of testing services that NDA will be capable of undertaking including medical devices, impurities, and vaccine testing. All this will directly ensure that Ugandan citizens access good quality medicines.

Together with Government, Ministry of Health, members of the Authority, staff, stakeholders and the public we will ensure that the entire human and veterinary population of Uganda have access to safe, efficacious and quality medicines.

Once again, my most heartfelt thanks to all stakeholders for your cooperation and support towards the mandate of the National Drug Authority.

The Event is dedicated to recognize and publicize best companies working towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and UN Sustainable Development  goals through offering high quality products and services paying taxes, employing Ugandans, respect for rights of workers, supporting productive corporate social responsibility, and environment protection among others.