1. Stop Stock-outs Campaign in Uganda
Kibira Denis (MPS)
HEPS-UGANDA
25th March 2010

2. Outline of discussion
Background
Methods/activities
Achievements

3. Background
A ‘stock-out’ is when a pharmacy temporarily has no medicine/s on the shelf.
This results into grave consequences for patients who may go without the medicines they need, seek alternative and sometimes inappropriate medicine or die.
The campaign to combat stock-outs is in five African countries –Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

4. Cont’d
In Uganda, according to the Pharmaceutical Situation Assessment-Level II-Health Facility Survey Report 2008 of Ministry of Health, only 45.7% public health facilities had a basket of 28 essential medicines. The duration of stock-outs in these facilities in averaged 2.5months per year
Medicines cost 3-5 times more than int. prices
The campaign is a civil society initiative to advocate for improved availability of, and access to, essential medicines in public health facilities

5. Methods/activities CSO coalition
Partnerships with other stakeholders; MoH, Private sector through MeTA, MPs and local artists
Monitoring Medicines availability and price survey reports by MoH/WHO/HAI (HEPS)
Campaign IEC material
Press conferences, public rallies and fora, radio talk shows and Pill check campaigns
Community outreaches/road shows

6. Cont’d
Pill-check public campaigns

7. Achievements
Stop Stock-outs campaign has raised more awareness about the right to health and to access essential medicines in Uganda than ever before leading to wide media and public outcry
NMS responses to media articles
NMS granted financial and operational autonomy
President and other politicians have come out to publicly condemn stock outs
Creation of Drug Monitoring Unit

9. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!