KAMPALA, UGANDA – The National Drug Authority has reported a landmark increase in Uganda’s pharmaceutical industry, with the number of local manufacturers growing from 13 in 2017 to 63 to date.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The remarkable growth was announced by the Head of Business Planning and Development at the National Drug Authority (NDA), Mr. Joseph Musinguzi, on Monday during the collaborative fellowship for Heads of Government Science Agencies.
The meeting, chaired by Prof. Bruce Kirenga and hosted at Sheraton Hotel Kampala, highlighted a dramatic surge in local pharmaceutical production, with health officials calling for a renewed focus on the positive impact of the country’s health facilities.
Mr. Musinguzi highlighted the National Drug Authority platform’s value for disseminating health sector advancements, citing the significant growth of local pharmaceutical manufacturers from 13 in 2017 to 63 today.
“Our pharmaceutical sector has seen remarkable growth, expanding from just 13 manufacturers in 2017 to 63 today. I want to applaud this platform as a vital avenue for sharing scientific progress with the public, especially in the health sector,” said Mr. Musinguzi.
Dr. Rosemary Byanyima Kusaba, Executive Director of Mulago National Referral Hospital, emphasized the need to shift public perception.
She urged stakeholders to focus on strategies that highlight the positive impacts of health facilities to enhance public awareness.
“We must shift our focus from the negatives and foster a culture of informed reporting and public engagement,” Dr. Byanyima stated.
The Executive Director of the Uganda Heart Institute, Dr. John Omagino, revealed that the Institute is constructing a large new facility in Naguru to expand its services.
He further reported a robust and consistent surgical schedule, revealing that the Institute now performs an average of ten life-saving heart surgeries every week.
Ms. Edith Nakalema thanked the leaders for their dedication and strongly appealed for continued cooperation, stating that leveraging institutional collaboration would create transformational public gains.
The meeting was attended by a consortium of key figures, including Dr. Jackson Orem (Uganda Cancer Institute), Mr. Raphael Lubega (Heart Institute), Mr. David Nahamya, Mr. Alex Langoya (NDA), Mr. Charles Kibalama (STI Secretariat), Mr. Joseph Ongol, Mr. Andrew Masaba, and partner Mr. Ben Mwine.
The gathering marked a strong show of collaboration and shared purpose, signaling a unified effort to advance Uganda’s healthcare system through innovation, infrastructure expansion, and strategic public engagement.
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