Browsing by Author "HEPS-Uganda"
Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Civil Soceity Asks For Mechanisms For Broader And Regular Monitoring Of Access To Essential Medicines In The Next Uganda Pharmaceutical Plan(HEPS-Uganda, 2017) HEPS-UgandaUganda’s Constitution and National Drug Policy recognise access to medicines – a fundamental element of the right to health1 – as a goal of State health programmes and interventions. The Constitution requires the State to take all practical measures to ensure the provision of basic medical services, of which medicines are an essential part, to the population.2 And, through the National Drug Policy, the State accordingly aims to ensure the availability and accessibility of adequate quantities of affordable, efficacious, safe, and high quality essential medicines and health supplies (EMHS)3 to all people at all times. In an effort to achieve access, Government and development partners, have increased funding for EMHS and implemented reforms in the logistics and supply chain system. In 2008/09, total Government and donor EMHS expenditure on (including for this period off-budget projects) was estimated at US$139 million (Ushs 347 billion) or about $ 4.5 per capita.4 In this regard, the U.S. Government was the largest single source of EMHS funding (35.4% of total expenditure) followed closely by Government of Uganda (33.4%) and then by CHAI (10.4%), Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization 9.5%, and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria 4% and other development partners 7.3%. One of the most important reforms has been the creation of a separate budget vote for EMHS (Vote 116) effective July 2009. In 2011/12, EMHS funding through National Medical Stores (NMS) – handling only about one half of medicines consumed in the public and private-not-for-profit sectors – only reached Ushs204 billion.5 Another major reform has been a move away from a “pull system” to a “push system” of EMHS for lower-level health facilities, which a pre-determined kit or basket of EMHS.Item Government Commitment To Provide Essential Medicines(HEPS-Uganda, 2016) HEPS-UgandaThe Government of Uganda, through the Uganda National Minimum Health Care Package (UNMHCP), has committed to ensuring that the population has universal access to essential medicines at public health facilities. Uganda has an Essential Medicine and Health Supplies List (EMHSLU) classified by the level of care. The Annual Health Sector Performance Report 2013/14 indicates that the government has increased funding for medicines and health supplies (including antiretroviral drugs, Artemisinin Combination Therapies, Laboratory Commodities, Tuberculosis drugs and Vaccines) from 201.7 billion in 2010/2011 to 219.4 billion in 2013/2014. However, this funding level is still inadequate to guarantee universal access to essential medicines. The per capita government expenditure on EMHS in the FY 2013/14 was about US$ 2.4, significantly lower than the estimated requirement in the HSSIP of US$ 12. This leaves a funding gap which is financed by development partners and out of pocket expenditure. Despite some improvements over the years, the stock outs level of the indicator medicines in public health facilities is still high. The percentage of health units with no stock outs of any indicator medicines in the previous six months was 60% in 2013/14, increasing from 43% in 2010/11 (MOH, 2014). Besides funding, inadequate human resources; capital investment gaps; poor planning, prioritization and forecasting; inadequate data management and monitoring systems; non-supply of ordered items by National Medical Stores; poly pharmacy tendencies1 ; and abuse of the referral system2 (MOH, 2014; BMAU, 20153 ) are hindering the public sector mandate of providing medicines to meet the requirements for universal access.Item Improving the Availability and Management of Essential AIDS and TB Medicines and Diagnostics in Uganda(HEPS-Uganda, 2008) HEPS-UgandaA free ARV programme implemented with support from external donors has over the past few years led to a significant increase in the number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART). By 2006/7, about 105,000 PHAs were receiving ART from 313 centres. Given the relatively wide range of ARVs available for prescription to PHAs, Uganda is well into the modern trends of AIDS treatment. The substantial availability of combination ARVs brings with it the advantages of a reduced pill burden and thus, improved adherence. In addition, the availability levels of medicines at treatment centres located in rural areas is comparable to those in urban locations, suggesting the medicine distribution system is generally fair. These advances in the treatment effort however, mask the reality, extent and impact of stock-outs of the essential AIDS ad TB medicines in the accredited centres. Access to affordable medicines is a human right enshrined in the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which together with subsequent UN statements, affirms people’s right to health. The reliable provision of ART to at least the people who are registered to receive it is therefore a key component of an adequate, functioning health care system that enables people to realise their right to health. As government plans to roll out ART to 80% of Health Centre IV’s by 2010, it is important to consider whether the present PHAs on ART can access treatment at the accredited health facilities. Besides risking their lives, if treatment of PHAs is interrupted for one reason or another, they are likely to develop resistance to the medicines they are currently taking, which could lead to emergence of resistant strains of HIV among the general society if any of the affected PHAs transmits HIV to other people.Item Uganda’s Preparedness For Equitable Access To Covid-19 Medical Products(HEPS-Uganda, 2021) HEPS-UgandaThe World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes and provides global guidance for the equitable deployment of COVID-19 medical products, including diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics(DVT) and personal protective equipment (PPE). At the national level, Ministry of Health guidelines list the recommended DVT and PPE for prevention, diagnosis and management of COVID-19 in Uganda. Unfortunately, Uganda has faced a chronic shortage DVT and PPE as the country battles a virulent second wave of infections. Hospitals have reported shortages of gloves, face masks, face shields, aprons, medical oxygen, among other. National stocks of laboratory items and PPE for health workers have all been low the target of a minimum of two months’ supply. The country has been unable to secure sufficient quantities of vaccines, including through the collaborations that have been established at the global and regional levels to facilitate access to COVID-19 vaccines. COVAX has been unreliable due to vaccine panic buying and hoarding by wealthy countries of the Global North. This has been exacerbated by lack of leadership of the response on the part of Government of Uganda; limited cold chain capacity, extravagance and inefficiency in procurement; scanty service sites; inadequate human resources and skills,limited involvement of the private sector; and lack of awareness and negative attitudes. GOU and development partners need to invest more in the response, particularly in the health system’s capacities, including laboratories, human resources, intensive care units, oxygen production, vaccine cold chain, and diagnostics, medicines and supplies. Ministry of Health should ensure the meaningful participation and engagement of communities, including vulnerable populations, the private sector and civil society groups, and decentralize some services to general hospitals to improve access. All vaccines currently in use across the globe should be granted emergency use approval to broaden options; efficiency and integrity in procurement should be enhanced; local research and development should be encouraged; and the private sector should be supported to provide affordable diagnosis, vaccination and treatment, including DVT and PPE.Item Uganda’s Preparedness For Equitable Access To Medical Products(HEPS, 2021) HEPS-UgandaUganda is one of the countries that had the leastCOVID-19 cases in the first wave of infections. However, cases shot-up in a more virulent second wave, driven by new variants of the virus, with the positivity rate reaching 17.1% and cumulative cases quickly shooting to 84,140 and deaths to 2,064 as of 9 July 2021.2 Although the country is a beneficiary of global and regional collaborations as well as bilateral donations, there has been a critical shortage of DVT and PPE.Global guidance The COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) of February 2021 and its Operational Plan focus on ensuring that capacities are in place in all countries to equitably deploy essential COVID-19 medical products. The Operational Plan in particular sets out the key actions and measures to be taken to ensure a comprehensive and effective response to the pandemic, including the implementation of new DVT in every country and context – under-resourced settings inclusive. WHO recommends the mainstreaming of gender equality, health equity and human rights during program design, planning and implementation. It emphasizes meaningful participation, collaboration and consultation with people experiencing poverty and social exclusion.