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THIS WEEK: Health Ministry set to burn expired drugs
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | 1500 tonnes of drugs are set to be burnt by the Ministry of Health after they expired in stores. Without giving specifics what particular drugs are to be burnt, Permanent Secretary Diana Atwiine told journalists on Feb.12 that the drugs were collected from over 6500 health centers across the country.
Noting that having expired drugs can cause a health disaster, Atwiine said they are choosing to get rid of the chemicals which can be dispensed by unscrupulous people if they keep in the facilities longer. She added that they also need space in the hospitals for restocking new medicine that can be used.
This however comes at the time when people across the country are complaining about the continuous lack of the drugs at government health facilities whereby whenever they go to these centers doctors only examine them and giving them notes to buy drugs from private pharmacies and drug shops.
For now, the Ministry has directed National Medical Stores to continue collecting expired drugs from the various facilities after which a company to do the incineration will be contracted. The country has one approved incinerator in Nakasongola.
