Gaps and opportunities in sustainable medicines use in resource limited settings: a situational analysis of Uganda
Author(s)
Kamba, Pakoyo F
Nambatya, Winnie
Aguma, Herbert B
Charani, Esmita
Rajab, Kalidi
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Resource constraints and widespread poverty among populations undermine disease prevention in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and ensure that these countries carry a disproportionate share of the global disease burden. Lack of access to efficacious medicines in LMICs further exacerbates this inequity. Addressing inequitable access to medicines and assuring their sustainable use is critical to the well-being of these populations. Whilst inadequate access to medicines in LMICs has drawn much attention, less is known about the sustainable use of available medicines, particularly to ensure their efficacy and mitigate harm to the population and the environment. Uganda has adopted various measures to ensure sustainable medicines use, including a national medicines policy, essential medicines list, medicines regulation framework, and promotion of domestic medicines production. Despite progress, challenges remain to achieving sustainable medicines use in the country, including fragmented access, inappropriate use, poor-quality, and inappropriate disposal. There is need to consolidate the globally embraced One Health approach (fostering collaboration between human, animal and environmental health sectors) to addressing these challenges as espoused in the country’s One Health strategic plan. Medicines supply chain management in public sector health facilities needs to be strengthened to minimize inventory shortages (stock-outs). A strategy for universal health insurance can minimize economic barriers to medicines access. Enhanced professional and medicines regulation in the private health market needs to be implemented. There are opportunities to build further capacity in Uganda, particularly infrastructure for regulation of its healthcare systems, policy and governance, workforce capacity building, and population action and engagement.
Date Issued
2022-09
Date Acceptance
2022-03-15
Citation
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2022, 88 (9), pp.3936-3942
ISSN
0306-5251
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
3936
End Page
3942
Journal / Book Title
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
Volume
88
Issue
9
Copyright Statement
© 2022 British Pharmacological Society. This is the accepted version of the following article: Kamba, PF, Nambatya, W, Aguma, HB, Charani, E, Rajab, K. Gaps and opportunities in sustainable medicines use in resource limited settings: A situational analysis of Uganda. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2022; 88( 9): 3936- 3942, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.15324
Sponsor
Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)
ESRC Impact Accelaration Award
ESRC
Identifier
https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcp.15324
Grant Number
ES/M500562/1
PSE968_WMNF
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
environmental pollution
inappropriate medicines use
One Health
poor-quality medicines
sustainable medicines use
RESISTANCE
HEALTH
CHALLENGES
ANIMALS
AFRICA
DRUGS
One Health
antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
environmental pollution
inappropriate medicines use
poor-quality medicines
sustainable medicines use
Delivery of Health Care
Drugs, Essential
Humans
Poverty
Uganda
Humans
Drugs, Essential
Poverty
Delivery of Health Care
Uganda
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2022-03-27