Adverse drug reactions in patients admitted on internal medicine wards in a district and regional hospital in Uganda.

Introduction: The burden of both community and hospital acquired adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are some of the important issues in pharmacotherapy. At the time of this study there was very scanty literature in this area from Africa.

Objective: This study was done to determine the frequency and characteristics of ADRs in patients admitted on medical wards in public hospitals.

Existing capacity to manage pharmaceuticals and related commodities in East Africa: an assessment with specific reference to antiretroviral therapy.

Background: East African countries have in the recent past experienced a tremendous increase in the volume of antiretroviral drugs. Capacity to manage these medicines in the region remains limited. Makerere University, with technical assistance from the USAID supported Rational Pharmaceutical Management Plus (RPM Plus) Program of Management Sciences for Health (MSH) established a network of academic institutions to build capacity for pharmaceutical management in the East African region.

Access and use of medicines information sources by physicians in public hospitals in Uganda: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Rational and cost-effective prescription of medicines requires up-to-date and readily accessible medicines information. There are several studies on availability and access to medicines information sources, but have been conducted only in high-income countries.

Objective: To assess medicines information sources accessed by physicians in public hospitals in Uganda, and physicians' opinion on establishment of a medicines information centre in the country.

Adherence to HIV antiretroviral therapy in HIV+ Ugandan patients purchasing therapy.

Our objective was to determine the level of adherence and reasons for non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV-positive (HIV+) people on ART in a resource-limited setting. Patients receiving ART were recruited into the cross-sectional study from three treatment centres in Kampala, Uganda. The number of missed doses over the last three days was assessed by structured patient interviews and dichotomized at +/-95% adherence.