The Minister of State for Primary Health Care, Margret Muhanga, has called upon manufacturers of therapeutics, consumables, and medical equipment, among others to invest and set up factories in Uganda.
Muhanga noted this will not only develop the health sector but will also create jobs, cut costs of importation and promote the export of health products.
The Minister who was presiding over the opening of the 2nd edition of Uganda Pharma Healthcare 2023 Exhibition On Friday, revealed that she had earlier talked to a number of manufacturers from India, and other parts of the world, who told her that they pick some of the items used in the manufacturing of drugs from Uganda.
“After these drugs are manufactured, they are brought here for sell, so I urged them to set up these factories here,” she said.
Muhanga noted that there is a conducive environment in Uganda, backed up by a good workforce, and very educated young professional people.
“We have the second youngest population in the world. And we also have a good record of fighting pandemics. If you remember COVID, it brought very strong health systems to the knees in very sophisticated countries. But Uganda was able to contain the pandemic. And now the recent Ebola. Because of the robust system we have, we managed to defeat them. So now with this robust health system, why don’t we manufacture drugs in this country? So I want to call upon you the people I met at the High Commission and those who are here today to come and set up your factories here, you will lack nothing.”
She added: “You’ve got 175 million people in the East African Community region alone. So that’s quite a big market for manufacturing in Uganda.”
The three-day event is hosting Medical Professionals, Pharmacies, Hospitals, Health Organizations, Importers & Exporters, Decision Makers and Medical Practitioners of the East African Region in Uganda.
Exhibitors from around 8+ countries are currently participating in the exhibition aiming at exploring the untapped potential of the East African Market.
The Expo has also attracted the participation of more than 150 exhibitors with the total area occupied by them being around 3000 square metres.
More than 5000 visitors from Uganda and the world are expected to attend.