In an effort to enhance healthcare accessibility, Uganda is set to begin manufacturing HIV and Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Kits within the country. The Ministry of Health, alongside the Uganda Virus Research Institute and the World Health Organization, has given the green light to Microheam Scientifics and Medical Supplies, a local factory, to commence production next month.
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Health Minister, lauded this development as a significant milestone in HIV/AIDS prevention and control. She emphasized that the local production of these kits will aid in routine testing and improve access to healthcare services for underserved populations.
The Director General of Health Services, Dr. Henry Mwebesa, encouraged companies that have been importing these test kits to transition to purchasing locally manufactured products. Studies conducted by the Uganda Virus Research Institute and the National Drug Authority have confirmed the efficacy and acceptability of these kits.
Microheam Scientifics and Medical Supplies is set to inaugurate their production facility in Ntinda on November 24. This World Health Organization-certified company is expected to produce 80 million HIV/AIDS test kits and 50 million Malaria test kits annually, reducing the country’s dependence on costly imports.
Additionally, guidelines for testing kits have been established to ensure that all kits available in the country undergo thorough evaluation. The National Drug Authority is working to eliminate counterfeit HIV kits that provide false results, with a focus on promoting validated, high-quality kits within the community.
