Cancer Institute runs out of drugs
Facility. Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago, Kampala. PHOTO BY RACHEL MABALA
What you need to know:
- According to Uganda Cancer Institute, the country has only 20 oncologists while the demand for these experts has grown in large numbers due to the steady growth of the cancer malady in the population with an annual load of more than 60,000 new cases in Uganda alone.
Kampala. The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) has been hit by a critical drug stock-out crisis after an unquantified consignment of anti-cancer drugs was held at Entebbe International Airport pending clearance from the drug regulatory body.
Patients who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprimand told this newspaper that specifically chemotherapy drugs used to shrink the cancerous tumours have been missing for weeks, causing them a dire financial burden.
“All they are giving right now are prescriptions to go and buy the drugs from private pharmacies,” one of the patients who continues to lie helpless at the institute’s shed in the hope that the drugs will be delivered soon, said.
Other caretakers told this newspaper that they have been advised to return today [Wednesday] on the assumption that the drugs will be available.
Confirmed
Dr Jackson Orem, the executive director of UCI, who acknowledged the delays but declined to reveal the quantity and type of the drugs, stated that there were tax issues and other modalities yet to be cleared by the suppliers.
“They wanted to make sure that the taxes are paid by the suppliers and that the drugs come directly to the Uganda Cancer Institute. We are ironing it out with NDA (National Drug Authority) to have the drugs released,” Dr Orem said in a telephone interview yesterday.
However, sources privy to the matter indicated that UCI has had clearance troubles ever since they started procuring the drugs themselves, causing untold suffering to the ailing patients.
When contacted, Mr Frederick Ssekyana, the NDA spokesperson, could not tell when the drugs will be released, saying their inspectors are taking time to scrutinise and ensure that medicines available or brought into the country are of good quality, safe and efficacious for use by the population.
Patients sit stranded at the cancer institute in Mulago on November 14. The health facility has been hit by drug stock-out after a consignment of anti-cancer drugs was held at Entebbe International Airport pending clearance from the drug regulatory body. PHOTO BY LEVIN ATUHAIRE
“It is important for the public to appreciate that all drugs imported in Uganda must be subjected to the Verification of Drug Imports procedure where an original proforma invoice for the consignment of drugs to be imported is presented to NDA for assessment,” Mr Ssekyana responded in a text message.
The alarm came after patients used different social media platforms, including WhatsApp groups to complain about the rampant drug stock-outs that has caused them grave financial burden while others who cannot afford have been left to die in pain.
Another source from one of the non-government organisations which support cancer patients said the stock-outs of chemotherapy drugs continued even after the institute started procuring its own drugs.
“The children have been getting drugs but chemotherapy for adults is never there. In most cases patients bring prescription for us to help but we also don’t have the money,” the social worker who did not want her identity revealed because she is not authorised to speak stated.
Cancer statistics in uganda
According to Uganda Cancer Institute, the country has only 20 oncologists while the demand for these experts has grown in large numbers due to the steady growth of the cancer malady in the population with an annual load of more than 60,000 new cases in Uganda alone. These patients and many more that never get to be accessed by the health systems, need diagnostics, therapeutic and rehabilitative services and robust scientific research to control the cancer epidemic.
