The Drug Authority has opened a state-of-the-art laboratory for testing pills, IV fluids | Tech Reddy

Kampala, Uganda | Sovereign | Uganda can now test the entire range of pharmaceutical drugs following the opening of a sh3 billion shilling state-of-the-art National Drugs Agency (NDA) microbiology laboratory in Mulago.

Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aseng launched the Pharmaceutical Microbiology Laboratory on Wednesday, saying it was an important milestone in protecting the public from consuming substandard pharmaceutical products.

“I had the opportunity to see intravenous fluids and drugs being tested. This ensures that whatever medicine enters my body is safe and of good quality,” Atseng said. He added that the Ministry of Health now mandates the National Drug Authority to conduct drug inspections and operations to ensure that safe drugs are maintained at all costs.

The laboratory expands the scope of the NDA to test the quality and safety of non-sterile products (including vaccines). This saves the testing costs incurred by the country by using external laboratories and helps improve NDA market approvals before drug use.

The NDA is the primary government agency that promotes and protects public health through the effective regulation of human and animal medicines and healthcare products.

This laboratory expands the scope of the NDA to test the quality and safety of sterile products, vaccines that have been tested for decades through WHO’s pre-qualified foreign laboratories. This, the NDA said, has led to delays and increased drug prices.