Cost and availability of selected medicines after implementation of increased import verification fees.

Background: Uganda imports approximately 90% of its medicines, with about 60% being distributed by the private sector. To discourage importation and promote local production of 37 selected locally manufactured medicines, the Ugandan government through the Ministry of Health in 2017 increased the import verification fees from 2 to 12%. The increase in verification fees ultimately affects cost and availability of these medicines.

Drug safety in Africa: a review of systems and resources for pharmacovigilance.

Introduction: Pharmacovigilance on the African continent has developed over time, with 50 of the 54 countries currently being members of the WHO Programme for international drug monitoring. However, there are still challenges, such as weak regulation, insufficient resources, and differing policies. This expert opinion provides unique insights from long-term experience overcoming some of these challenges and proposes some solutions for implementing pharmacovigilance in resource-limited settings.