National Medical Stores

The parliamentary public Accounts committee grilled the director of the Uganda cancer institute, Dr. Jackson Orem, over accepting the National medical stores to over stock the institute with the Anti-cancer medicines which could not be consumed and hence expired in stores.

MPs on the committee chaired by Jinja East municipality MP Paul Mwiru while, interfacing with the officials from Uganda cancer institute led by Dr. Jackson Orem, noted that anti- cancer medicines worth 425.2 million shillings expired at Uganda cancer institute stores, questioning the institute why they did not refuse such a huge stock which they could not ensure consumption.

Mps who comprised of Theodore Sekikubo, Tim Lwanga, Aspasa Mpongo and Joseph Sewungu said that the money wasted for drug over stocking at cancer institute could have been used to procure the needed and right drugs for other patients with different illnesses. MPS were concerned that cancer patients are referred to private clinics for treatment yet there are enough drugs in the stores which end up expiring hence causing extra cost of destroying it.

In his response Dr.Orem told the committee that the National medical stores pushed all the anti-cancer medicines that they had in  stock to cancer institute to finish up the remaining budget hence expiry of the stock at the institute.

Members of Parliament resolved to call for a special meeting between the hospital authorities and National medical stores including, Uganda cancer institute, to iron out the issues related to drug expiry in hospital stores due to alleged over stocking by the National Medical stores with drugs not requested for.