The Parliamentary Health Committee has directed National Drug Authority (NDA) to halt its ban on the issuance of new licences to pharmacies in Kampala and other major towns.
NDA recently placed a ban on the opening of new pharmacies in Kampala but the committee members agreed with representatives from the Pharmacy Owners Association Owners Uganda that the ban was both unconstitutional and would be a disservice to Ugandans.
The Licensing guidelines of 2018 by the NDA propose a ban on the opening up of new pharmacies in Kampala and all major towns including Nansana, Wakiso, Entebbe, Kira, Jinja, Mukono, Masaka, Mbarara, Mbale, Gulu, Soroti, Tororo, Lira, Fort portal, and Arua.
Officials at NDA say restricting pharmacies from opening in the already concentrated urban areas would allow them to move to other rural localities which are underserved. They say that there are incentives including lower taxes to woo such businesses into smaller towns.
According to the pharmacy owners, in Kampala alone, there are 765 pharmacies currently serving several clinics and a population of over 1.5 million people in the city centre which essentially means that one pharmacy serves 2,000 people. Yet, the World Health Organisation recommends a ratio of one pharmacy to 1,000 people.
The pharmacy owners worry that the move will hinder access to pharmaceutical services by the population of Uganda. They argue that the distance restrictions between pharmacies of 500 metres for those in Kampala and 200 metres for upcountry pharmacies are sufficient enough for NDA to regulate new entities.
During an interface with NDA officials led by the Board Chairman, Medard Bitekyerezo and the Executive Secretary, Donnah Kusemererwa, the legislators noted that the ban comes in bad faith and will deny the population from effectively accessing medication.
Parliament thus decided to suspend the ban until further notice.
The Executive Secretary of NDA Donah Kushemerera has agreed that NDA will comply with the directive by Parliament and shall have the ban lifted with immediate effect.