Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:15:2
Mayur Pahilajani - AHN News Writer
Kampala, Uganda (AHN) - Uganda has opened its first pharmaceutical factory on Monday, to make drugs used to fight HIV/AIDS. Authorities say they will make the medicine, specifically to offer to citizens at discounted prices. The Kampala-based Quality Chemicals Limited is expected to start producing anti-retroviral HIV drugs (ARVs) and anti-malaria drugs as soon as January.
The $38 million factory will receive its ingredients from Indian giant drugmaker Cipla. The director of the factory Emmanuel Katongole, said "Our target is that everybody who requires ARVs will be getting them."
According to official figures, 250,000 AIDS patients require the life-saving medicine, yet each year only an estimated 80,000 can actually afford it.
Health Minister Stephen Malinga told BBC that the country wants to reduce its reliance on expensive imports of vital HIV/Aids and malaria treatments.
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