Members of Parliament in the Parliamentary Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance have urged the Government to increase efforts in enforcing policies and laws related to drug dispensation to patients.
The call was made during a workshop on antimicrobial resistance held at Parliament on March 21, 2025, where MPs stressed the need for proper drug prescription, accurate interpretation, preparation, and labelling.
Dr. Nicholas Thadeus Kamara, who chaired the meeting, pointed out that while Parliament had enacted strong laws and policies to address drug dispensation, enforcement remains a major challenge.
“I urge Local Councils and the National Drug Authority to ensure that the prescription of drugs remains the responsibility of the prescribers. I also call on pharmacists and those in drug shops to only dispense drugs that have been prescribed by doctors,” Kamara said.
Dr. Kamara further called on all parliamentarians and Ugandans to join in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, describing it as a silent pandemic that claims the lives of over 37,800 Ugandans annually due to drug resistance to bacteria.
Elly Nuwamanya, a health economist from the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), spoke at the workshop, emphasising the need for continuous engagement with policymakers to review the current state of antimicrobial resistance and develop strategies to prioritise its containment at both the policy and legislative levels.
“According to a study by our Centres for Antimicrobial Optimisation Network, Uganda loses about Shs67 million annually due to antimicrobial resistance,” Nuwamanya stated.
He also called for a unified response from all stakeholders to address antimicrobial resistance, warning that without coordinated action, the economic burden will continue to rise.
Dr. Francis Kakooza, Head of the Global Health Security Department at IDI, commended the government for presenting a report on the economic burden of antimicrobial resistance, calling it a timely and reassuring step that aligns with global health security priorities.
Other stakeholders who attended the workshop included Baylor Foundation Uganda, the ministries of health and water, Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS-Uganda), the National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services, and the National One Health Platform.
The Parliamentary Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance is an advocacy forum working with various sectors to ensure that legislators perform their roles and contribute to the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
