By Our reporter.
Ugandans suffering from cardiovascular diseases are to starting having subsidized drugs from public health centers and selected pharmacies across the country.
The new initiative comes after the Uganda heart institute signed an Memorandum Of Understanding with Swiss drug manufacturer, Novartis that will see the company distribute cardiovascular drugs to the institute at USD.1 with the aim of seeing local vulnerable Ugandans suffering from cardiovascular diseases access quality medicines to crack down on the disease.
The previous prices have made it difficult for poor Ugandans suffering from Non Communicable Diseases to easily access quality medicines to help them treat or cure some of these diseases, but with the signing of the pact, then things are likely to be better.
According to the deputy director Uganda heart institute, Dr. Peter Lwabi, the three years understanding will see Novartis extend support to the heart institute in the field of screening, diagnosis, capacity building among other related issues.
However, Nathan Mulure, the head of social business for Novartis Eastern and southern Africa says, they are doing this as part of the corporate social responsibility geared at reducing the cost of drugs to the vulnerable communities in low and middle income countries.
He further states that they are already doing this in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and now in Uganda.
He also states that research carried out in 2016 shows that 18 million lives were lost due to Non Communicable Diseases with 82% of these all coming from low and middle income countries.
He therefore notes that they re -committed to creating a lasting impact and provide effective access to medicines by offering the Novartis access programme portfolio of products to the public sector, including governments and its political sub divisions, procurement bodies and government controlled entities, NGOs and other stakeholders of the public sector in respective countries which form part of the Novartis access program.
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