THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

PRESS STATEMENT

HON. SARAH A. OPENDI

Date: 10/07/2017
GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT LOCAL PHARMACEUTICAL
MANUFACTURERS THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF 12%
VERIFICATION FEE ON SELECTED IMPORTED MEDICINES

The Ministry of Health, like other Government Agencies, under the

presidential investor Round Table has been tasked to support domestic
pharmaceutical manufacturers in doing business in Uganda.

Supporting domestic production of human and veterinary medicines

and health care products will reduce reliance on imports, and contribute
towards national, development aspirations of industrialization as
provided for in the current vision 2040, the NRM manifesto, the health
Sector Development Plan (2015- 2020) National Pharmaceutical Sector
Strategic Plan (2016 2021), and the National Drug Authority Strategic
Plan (2016 2021).

Effective August 1st, 2017, the Government of Uganda will increase

verification fees from 2% to 12% on 37 selected medicines that are
locally manufactured. These include A moxillin, Albendazole, Dextrose
Infusion, Paracetamol, Oral Rehydration Salts to mention but a few. This
selection was made following the Ministry of Health and NDAs
assessment of the domestic manufacturers capacity to sufficiently meet
the demand for the 37 selected medicines.

The impact of the increase in verification fees is to discourage

importation of locally manufactured drugs, and also support the growth
of our economy. Upon assessment of the countrys needs, what is
produced locally is adequate to meet our demands as a country and
meets the National Quality Standards.
The fees for donor funded commodities will remain at 2%.

H.E the President of Uganda tasked Ministry of Health to promote Local

Pharmaceutical manufacturing and attract more pharmaceutical
manufactures to set up industries in Uganda. This will not only promote
access to safe, efficacious and quality medicines for our population, but
create linkages to other sectors like packaging, construction and others.
In addition, the presence of local manufacturing industries will also
create jobs for the hundreds of jobless youth and ensure that Uganda is
self-sustaining in terms of Pharmaceutical products.
Ministry of Health has also tasked the National Drug Authority to
establish a rigorous post market surveillance system which will ensure
that all the medicines on the market, both imported and locally
manufactured are closely monitored for safety, efficacy and quality.

In the FY 2017/18, the Authority also plans to invest Uganda Shillings

2.7 Billion in equipping the National Quality Control Laboratory to
detect all substandard and falsified medicines on the market.

With these measures, I would like to assure all Ugandans that the
availability of safe efficacious and good quality medicines will not in any
way be compromised. The Government is committed to providing the
highest possible standard of health care to all people of Uganda.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY

Hon. Sarah A. Opendi

MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH (GENERAL DUTIES)/ALSO
HOLDING THE PORTFOLIO FOR THE MINISTER OF HEALTH