The Uganda Pharmacy Owners Association has clarified on its accusation against the National Drug Authority NDA, which it faults for failing to regulate illegal drug shops in the country.
The Pharmacy owners executive appeared this morning before the health committee of Parliament to justify their petition that they lodged with the speaker protesting the conduct of the NDA on a number of issues.
The Uganda Pharmacy Owners Association notes that the NDA has allowed drug shops to operate outside stipulated guidelines in direct violation of the NDA act.
The Organizing secretary Mutumba Rajab says that this poses a risk to public safety.
He told MPs that the drug shops are only allowed to sell Class C drugs, but have continually sold both Class A and B drugs which are outside their scope, since they don’t have the requisite training to handle such drugs as Codeine and cocaine derivatives, which are addictive.
The petition followed a ban imposed by the National Drug Authority on new pharmacies in Kampala and Urban municipalities.
The pharmacy owners criticised the ban as unfair and unconstitutional, arguing that it is in direct violation of article 40 of the constitution.
They also accuse NDA of carrying out dual licensing of pharmacies, imposing high taxes on drugs imported into the country, through high verification fees and financial mismanagement.
The legal secretary of the association, Deo Kalikumutima, outlined some of the allegations, pointing to financial impropriety by the NDA management.
Among these he pointed out is the billions poured into construction of a new building, instead of investing in equipment to improve services and regulation.
