By Johnson Kanyesige
The National Drug Authority- NDA Western regional office has closed 180 drug shops found operating illegally.
The drug shops were closed during the five days long operation covering the districts of Kyankwanzi, Kyenjonjo, ,Masindi, Kiryandongo, and Hoima. The operation was conducted between February 4th to February 9.
The NDA enforcement unit also impounded 416 boxes of assorted drugs worth over 115 million shillings. The owners of the drug shops were allegedly operating in disregard of procedures for trading in human and animal medicines.
Samuel Kyomukama, the Head of Enforcement at Western Regional offices in Hoima City told journalists in Hoima that during the operation, 180 drug outlets had queries leading to their closure. Four hundred and sixteen boxes of assorted human medicine were impounded.
Kyomukama explained that some of the outlets were trading in expired drugs, others were involved in relabeling, packaging while some were being operated by unqualified personnel.
According to Kyomukama, the operation is in line with the NDA’s mandate to protect and promote public health through effective regulation of human and animal medicines and healthcare products.
The NDA normally carries out such operations and post-market surveillance intended to protect the population from substandard, counterfeit, and unregistered medicines.
Dr. Christopher Luzinda, the NDA Manager for Western Region said they must ensure that the population gets drugs from qualified pharmacies and drug shops.
In November 2019, National Drug Authority officials conducted similar operations in the region and they were able to close 183 drug outlets after inspecting 538 drug outlets.
During the operations, they managed to impound 342 boxes of assorted medicines estimated at shillings 119.7 million.
