New medicine guidelines issued

More than 170 medicines have been introduced in the new guidelines for caregivers.

The Ministry of Health has launched a new document to guide health workers on the treatment of common diseases.

The document is expected to focus on diagnosis and treatment of diseases and common conditions in Uganda such as malaria, diarrhoea among children, and Tuberculosis.

Following the revision of the Essential Medicines and Health Supplies (EMHS) list for Uganda in 2007, the 2012 version launched yesterday will also include diagnostic supplies and support equipment mostly for laboratory use.

According to the document, a total of 104 medicines have been deleted from the 2007 list and health supplies, while another 176 new others have been included in the new list.

Mr Martin Oteba, the assistant commissioner health services of the pharmacy division, said the decision to delete and add some medicines was informed as a result of new treatment guidelines as well as new formulation and fixed dose combinations.

“Ideally, the list is supposed to be revised regularly to fit in the changes of various disease causing organisms which is usually informed by scientific research. We then adopt new measures as well as new medicines to address the changes,” said Mr Oteba said at the launch of the documents in Kampala.

For example, in the new guidelines, caregivers will have to treat all HIV positive pregnant women with option B+ compared to the one drug combination of AZT that was being used.

Use of quinine in treating severe malaria is also regulated, while diarrhoea in children will be treated with a combination of Zink tablet and oral rehydration salt that have for a long time been used.

aayebazibwe@ug.nationmedia.com