Medicines Transparency Alliance (MeTA) Evaluation: Insights from Uganda

Abstract

MeTA Uganda provided a platform for honest and open multi-stakeholder dialogue on medicines policy issues. The MeTA platform is credited with building the capacity of civil society to engage in policy dialogue and has shifted perceptions among public sector stakeholders of the positive role civil society can play in shaping medicines policy. They have built quality relations with the National Drug Administration (NDA), despite not yet agreeing information sharing protocols with this important body. They have: engaged in policy processes such as the review the National Medicines Policy and National Pharmaceutical Sector Strategic Plan and discussions to create a National Quality of Medicines Forum; conducted research (an assessment of quality of medicines provided by drug outlets in rural areas, three annual medicines availability and price-monitoring surveys, one price component study, and a study to implement Medicine and Therapeutic Committees in regional referral hospitals to generate learning to promote rational medicine use); and developed capacity by planning a pioneering pharmaco-economics course in collaboration with Makerere University and conducting social accountability methodologies for empowerment of communities to ‘own’ services and hold duty bearers accountable.