Uganda-made ARVs put on sale

A Luzira, Uganda-based, pharmaceutical production site has begun supplying the country's estimated 300,000 HIV/AIDS sufferers who require antiretroviral drugs. Emmanuel Katongole, chief executive of Quality Chemical Industries told Kampala's New Vision newspaper: "the 60 million tablets we make every day is a good beginning."

The ARV drugmaking facility is the first of its kind in Africa, according to QCI, and is the result of a collaboration with India's Cipla (Marketletters passim). Over five years, local people will be trained to take over the running of the Luzira site. The drugs cost $8 per dose, Mr Katongole said. Although the National Drug Authority has licensed the plant, the World Health Organization, which has inspected it, has no yet done so, QCI stated.