Registration and local production of essential medicines in Uganda (Peer reviewed)

Universal access to high-quality essential medicines is vital for sustainable development. However, many low- and middle-income countries face challenges in ensuring access to all medicines on their national essential medicines lists (EML). The study, conducted between 2011 and 2015, focused on Uganda and examined the registration status of medicines and vaccines from the 2012 Ugandan EML. The research found that nearly half (49%) of the 566 essential medicines and vaccines had no registered product in 2012. Furthermore, of the 3,130 registered products, only 28% were listed on the EML. Interviews revealed alternative routes to medicine availability other than registration. Local producers, however, encountered significant barriers to meeting international quality standards necessary for global procurement. The study concludes that monitoring the registration of essential and non-essential medicines should be prioritized both nationally and regionally. Additionally, national and regional manufacturing plans should consider the local production of unregistered essential medicines.