The Prime of Uganda Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja has assured the country that distribution of drugs to government health facilities country wide has resumed, to handle issues of general stock out of medicines and health supplies in public health facilities
The Prime Minister’s assurance came on Thursday evening while presenting a statement on the current drug stock out in public health facilities to Parliament.
“There is a general stock out of medicines and health supplies in public health facilities across the country, but distribution of medicines has commenced and must be fast tracked to ensure that every corner of the country is covered,” the Prime Minister told Parliament
Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja has also instituted an interministerial committee under the ministry of health comprising of stakeholders like the government Chief whip, National medical Stores, the National Planning Authority, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of health to look into detail the challenges off drug stock outs in public health facilities and report back to the leader of government business with in a period of one week starting Friday 3rd January 2013.
She said she will provide an update to Parliament with in 14 working days and address the same issue to the National Media.
On Thursday Morning, the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja convened a meeting with the mentioned stakeholders and the Leader of Opposition under the directives of the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa to harmonize issues of drug stock outs in the country health facilities.
On Wednesday, the Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has said delayed payments from Ministry of Finance had negatively impacted the Health Ministry’s ability to timely deliver essential medicines to government health facilities.
Dr. Ruth Aceng recommended that government should treat National Medical Stores (NMS) as a special entity which should get funds on the first day of the quarter.
Public hospitals in Uganda have been hit by shortages of essential medicines and supplies needed for emergency care according to media reports. The shortages have affected National regional referral Hospitals and government health centers across the country.
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