By Mulengera Reporters
The Auditor General’s latest report reveals a grim reality in Uganda’s health sector, where drugs worth UGX 316.65 billion got expired during the financial year 2023/2024.
This represents a very big percentage increase from the previous year’s UGX 33 billion, signaling a crisis in drug management.
Among the wasted supplies were COVID-19 vaccines, ARVs, and test kits, critical resources in a country battling health services provision challenges.
The root causes included overstocking, poor demand forecasting, and delayed distribution to health facilities.
In his report, the AG urges National Medical Stores (NMS) to align procurement with actual demand and enhance distribution efficiency.
Uganda’s health system cannot afford such losses, especially when citizens face medicine shortages in hospitals. Addressing these inefficiencies could save lives and rebuild trust in the public health system. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
