Presentation given at the national launch of the Medicines Transparency Alliance in Uganda, 27 March 2009.

1. Medicines Transparency Alliance
(MeTA) Uganda
Launch
Fairway Hotel
27 March 2009

2. Presentation Overview
 Background to MeTA initiative in Uganda
o Sequence of events and consultations
o Stakeholder perspectives on MeTA priorities for
improved access to medicines
 The shape of MeTA in Uganda
o Structures: Council, Secretariat, Fund holder
o MoU and Work plan
2 MeTA Uganda Briefing Mar-09

3. Brief History of MeTA Uganda
(2007- 2008)
 Scoping study & supply chain study in 2007
 MOH accept invitation to join as a MeTA pilot country
 CSO members attended capacity building workshop in
Uganda (Feb. 2008)
 Multi-stakeholder attendance from Uganda at global
launch (May 2008)
 Int’l Secretariat visit (Oct. 2008)
 Short-term TA contracted to support pre-launch
processes
 Private sector mapping by Int’l consultant (Dec. 2008)
Mar-09
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4. Perspectives – Private Sector
 Need for info on medicines market / demand
– Most stakeholders agree on info sharing, disclosure
 Pricing policy, e.g. recomm. / max. retail price
– Agreement in the case of essential medicines;
lower price=higher access= increased sales
 Import of generics vs local manufacture
– S/Hs differ on strategic value of local manuf;
GI conditionalities = better quality or barrier?
Mar-09
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5. Perspectives – Civil Society
 Transparency in the supply chain
– Procurement and supply management information
in the public domain
 CSO representation at all levels
– Enhanced accountability; reduced pilferage
 Capacity building for effectiveness
– Players in supply chain, n.b. health facility level
– CSO participation from policy level to community
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6. Perspectives – Government
 Poor medicines availability in public facilities
 Under funding of medicines
– 30% of the requirement for UNMHCP; escalating
cost due to scale up of programmes needing
expensive medicines (ARVs, ITNs, ACTs)
 Weak proc. and supply management systems
– At all levels; concerns over VFM/ quality in local
private sector purchases/ excessive retail mark-ups;
reports of leakage
Mar-09
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7. Lead up to Launch (2009)
 Formal establishment of National Multi-
Stakeholder Council
 National MeTA Secretariat streamlined and
Coordinator recruited
 Fund-holder arrangement
 MoU signed for implementation of country work
plan
Mar-09
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8. Outputs – transparency and
information disclosure
Activity Stakeholders
Periodic surveys of medicines prices MoH, HEPS, WHO
and availability
Web-based information on NDA, PS
registration, quality, volumes and (Manuf/Importers)
FOB cost of medicines
Evaluation of the rolling plan for Gov, Dev. Partners,
provision of medicines for the Implem Agencies, TWG
UNMCHP (FY 08-09)
Mar-09
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9. Outputs – accountability and
good governance
Activity Stakeholders
Stop the stock-outs campaign CSOs
Multi-stakeholder follow-up of Gov, CS, TWG
recommendations of the tracking
study, periodic surveys and
performance evaluation
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10. Outputs – IEC & awareness
Activity Stakeholders
Pilot awareness campaign on approp. HEPS, PSU
use of medicines in communities and
train drug handlers
Contribute to IEC strategies and Multi-stakeholder
messages at national level
Radio talk shows, jingles Multi-stakeholder
Mar-09
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11. Outputs – CSO capacity building
Activity Stakeholders
Build capacity in at least 30 CSOs to Expanded CS-MeTA
effectively participate in improved alliance
governance, transparency and
accountability in medicines supply
chain
Engage policy makers on the issue of MoH, MoFPED, LG,
low availability / high stock-outs of Parliament, AG, PPDA,
medicines NDA, NMS
Mar-09
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12. Summary - MeTA
 Global initiative to improve access to
medicines through increased transparency &
accountability
 Governed by national & international multi-
stakeholder forums
 Progressive disclosure of data collected /
information reported = key outcome of pilot
Mar-09
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13. Thank you!
 Questions, comments …????
 More about MeTA:
www.MedicinesTransparency.org
13 MeTA Uganda Launch Mar-09