NDA Closes Over 178 Unauthorized Drug Shops, Impounds Drugs Worth UGX 57M In Western Uganda
By Uganda Online
Kampala: The National Drug Authority-NDA has closed 178 drug outlets in Western Uganda.
According to NDA, The outlets were closed in an operation that started on December 1, 2021 and ended on December 10, 2021, covering 19 districts of Ntoroko, Bundibugyo, Bunyangabo,Kabarole,Mubende, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Mityana, Kasanda, Hoima, Masindi, Kyankwanzi, Buliisa, Kiboga, Kikuube, Kibaale and Kiryandongo.
During the operation, NDA officials inspected 610 drug outlets including 557 human drug shops, 31 veterinary drug shops, and 11 pharmacies among others.
Some of the outlets were trading in expired drugs, others involved in relabeling, packaging while some were being operated by unqualified personnel.
Samuel Kyomukama, the Head of Enforcement at NDA noted that during the operation, 183 drug outlets had queries leading to their closure adding that a total of 287 boxes of assorted medicine estimated at shillings 57 million were impounded.
Kyomukama explained that the operations and post-market surveillance are intended to protect the population from substandard, counterfeit, and unregistered medicines.
In April this year, National Drug Authority officials conducted similar operations in the region and they were able to close 249 drug outlets after inspecting 779 drug outlets.
During the operations, they managed to impound 297 boxes of assorted medicines estimated at shillings 594 Million Shillings.
