Members of Parliament (MPs) on the Parliamentary Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance have urged the Ugandan government to intensify enforcement of drug dispensation laws.
This plea comes amid growing concerns over the rampant misuse and mishandling of medication which has been linked to rising cases of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across the country.
The urgency was palpable during a workshop on AMR held at Parliament where legislators expressed frustration over the gap between policy and practice.
“We have good laws in place but enforcement remains a glaring problem,” lamented Hon. Dr. Nicholas Kamara who chaired the session.
Kamara representing Kabale Municipality highlighted how weak implementation is undermining the country’s fight against drug resistance.
The laws he noted, were crafted to regulate drug prescription, interpretation, preparation and labeling to protect patients.
However, poor oversight has left many Ugandans vulnerable to substandard and improperly dispensed medication.
The workshop brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals and civil society members who raised alarms about the increasing threat of drug-resistant infections.
Hon. Kamara pointed to instances where unqualified personnel dispense powerful antibiotics without proper diagnosis intensifying the AMR crisis.
“People are dying not because there are no drugs but because drugs are being given wrongly. This is a public health emergency,” he emphasized.
Lawmakers were not shy about calling out the Ministry of Health and other regulatory bodies for failing to clamp down on malpractice in the pharmaceutical sector.
“We cannot continue passing laws that gather dust on shelves while pharmacies and clinics operate like open markets.”
Speakers of Parliament, including Rt. Hon. Anita Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa acknowledged the urgency of the issue pledging to push for greater accountability within the healthcare system.
Tayebwa specifically pointed out the need to tighten the monitoring of private drug stores where most irregularities occur.
Uganda is not alone in facing the AMR challenge, the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed antimicrobial resistance as one of the top ten global health threats.
In Uganda, the stakes are higher due to a struggling healthcare system and limited resources. The misuse of antibiotics is a key driver of resistance causing treatments for common infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis and urinary tract infections to become increasingly ineffective.
Experts argue that beyond passing stringent laws, public education is critical.
“Patients themselves must understand that not every fever requires antibiotics. Self-medication is killing us faster than the diseases,” health care professional at the workshop noted.
With Parliament now increasing pressure, all eyes are on the Ministry of Health to implement robust mechanisms that ensure compliance with drug dispensation regulations.
MPs are calling for regular audits, more funding for regulatory bodies and harsher penalties for offenders.
However, the effectiveness of these measures will be the centre of continued political will and collaboration among stakeholders.
As Uganda grapples with this growing health crisis, the message from Parliament is clear, good laws mean nothing without good enforcement.
