Uganda Tries to Curb Availability of Fake Drugs
The sale of counterfeit drugs has reached extremely high volumes in the developing world. Some countries are taking steps to address the problem. In Uganda, for instance, the government has authorized the National Drug Authority to fight this issue.
Dr. David Mukanga is a pharmacist and public health specialist in Kampala, Uganda. He told Voice of America English to Africa reporter Douglas Mpuga that in the last few years regulation has been improving, making it difficult to import drugs without authorization. He said, however, it is still a problem because the authorization process to import drugs can be hindered by bureaucratic red tape. Dr Mukanga says due to the small number of doctors and pharmacists, it is equally difficult to require people to acquire drugs through legal channels.
By Douglas Mpuga
03 July 2006