Uganda has opened its first HIV/Aids treatment production factory, in a bid to lower the costs traditionally generated by importing drugs to the area. The factory, which is located in the Ugandan capital of Kampala, will be formally opened by President Yoweri Museveni.

In conversation with the BBC, Stephen Malinga, the Ugandan Health Minister, said the initial batch of locally manufactured drugs will be available within three months.

"[Ugandans] will have access to a regular supply of medication and also we hope it will be cheaper, because we will be eliminating the element of transportation and manufacture in foreign countries" Mr Malinga said.

The locally-made treatments will be produced through a co-operative venture involving Quality Chemicals - the Ugandan importer of drugs - and prominent Indian generic drug firm Cipla.

According to ActionAid International's Leonard Okello, the biggest difficulty factor associated with the new drugs is their distribution. "The important thing is for the tablet to get on to the table..." he stated, adding: "The challenge is to make sure that the production is followed by a good distribution system that makes sure that the drug can reach all corners of the country."

Locating cost-effective, high performance medicines in Africa is extremely challenging, and the situation is getting worse. A large number of African nations have, therefore, resorted to importing generic drugs from countries such as India. However, two years ago, changes in India's patent laws limited the extent to which its local generic drug manufacturing firms could replicate the originals.

Uganda now effectively joins a group of African nations all attempting to develop their own indigenous drugs, including Tanzania, Ethiopia and Ghana.

The Sub-Saharan part of Africa has the highest level of HIV/Aids found anywhere in the world. Data issued by the World Health Organisation indicates that, of those in Uganda with HIV/Aids, a mere 41 per cent get the treatment they need.

Source - Pharmaceutical International's African Correspondent

Recent related News Items:

Pfizer's Oral HIV Drug Celsentri Approved for EU

Approval Set for New Drug Class Aids Treatment