By Fregence Gumula
The Visionaries Awards night for this year was held on Thursday at Serena Conference Center’s Katonga Hall. The same was presided over by Public Service Minister Muruli Mukasa who represented Vice President Jessica Alupo. Muruli was flanked by two other Ministers namely Francis Mwebesa (Trade) and Peter Lokeris in charge of minerals.
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National Planning Authority Chairperson the very able Prof Pamela Mbabazi was also there and used the opportunity to publicize Uganda Vision 2040 and NDP III-eloquently telling the very large audience that assembled what the 2 very important GoU documents are all about.
According to leading social media influencer Mathew Bagonza (also a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on exports & industrial development) who did a very good job excelling as the event MC, a total of 58 public and private sector entities were recognized and given awards to appreciate their incremental contributions towards the realization of the economic transformation ideals enshrined in both Vision 2040 and NDP III which is actually derived from the former.
National Drug Authority (NDA), which is charged with regulating the manufacturing, distribution and use of medicines in Uganda, was one of the 58 entities that were recognized at this year’s Visionaries Awards’ edition.
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In this news article, Mulengera News explains why and how NDA emerged the best Health Sector Regulator of the year. This actually is the 5th time NDA has scooped this coveted accolade since the Visionaries of Uganda awards commenced.
One of the key milestones that made the difference for NDA has to do with the state of art national quality control laboratory which the Authority operates at Mulago. This is where all the medicines manufactured within Uganda and abroad are tested to ascertain their safety and efficacy. It’s pre-qualified by both WHO and the leading US rating agency. This certification means that the standards of this NDA lab are globally comparable. It’s what NDA relies on to enforce high standards and compliance requirements.
The same NDA was naturally hard to beat by anyone else at this year’s Visionaries of Uganda rankings because its certification and regulatory practices are ISO 9001 (2015) certified implying globally compatibility. The NDA quality management systems are as good as what can be obtained anywhere else in the world.
The NDA has also done so well which is why as of today, 43 domestic medicines manufacturing firms are effectively carrying on the manufacturing of safe and efficacious pharmaceutical products both for the Ugandan market and exportation. This is consistent with the President’s election manifesto and NDP III which prioritize industrialization and manufacturing. This is good because it brings in the much needed foreign exchange besides amplifying job creation for the young people. These pharmaceutical manufacturing firms are licensed, supported and certified by the globally-acclaimed NDA.
Joseph Williams Tamale, who spoke on behalf of NDA Executive Secretary Dr. David Nahamya and actually heads the Authority’s regional operations, told reporters on the sidelines of the Serena event that this latest recognition can only incentivize them to work even harder towards ensuring more and more local firms are supported into this high quality pharmaceuticals manufacturing in the coming months and years. “We are all charged up and motivated to work even harder to serve Ugandans like never before. We are determined to keep ensuring that medicines in all Ugandan pharmacies are safe and efficacious,” Tamale explained.
Besides regular enforcement operations, aimed at mitigating against quack medicines’ manufacturers and vendors, NDA has also been maintaining permanent presence in different parts of Uganda to ensure that Ugandans are adequately sensitized about the dangers of buying medicines from unlicensed and black market operators. The regulator has also been intensifying surveillance operations to check on standards besides promptly responding to complaints and alerts from concerned members of the public regarding those dealing in or vending counterfeit drugs or medicines. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [whatsapp line], 0779411734 & 0200900416 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).