Pathogenic investment: Uganda starts manufacturing diagnostic kits for HIV, malaria, and sickle cell

Uganda has started manufacturing its own kits for testing for HIV, malaria, and sickle cell, pointing to investment opportunities in the country’s pathogenic industry.

The initiative, led by Uganda Investment Authority-licensee, Microhaem Scientifics and Medical Supplies, aims to reduce reliance on imported kits and lower testing costs for Ugandans.

The Secretary of the National Drug Authority, Dr. David Nahamya, says they approved the testing kits after assessing them for quality, adding that the factory has good manufacturing practice certification.

Dr. Nahamnya says MHS is Uganda’s first facility of its kind as well as at the regional level, adding that the World Health Organisation has commended the quality of its kits.

MHS is an internationally certified company under ISO 13485 for InVitro Diagnostic kits, with a Class D classification. The factory can produce 80 million testing kits per year.

Dr. Cedric Akwesigye, the chief executive of MHS, says the locally manufactured InVitro Diagnostic testing kits cost between $0.6 (2,208 shillings) and $1 (3,680 shillings) compared to imported kits that retail at about $1.5 (5,520 shillings).

Dr Akwesigye says the blood-based testing kits are designed for individuals to use in the comfort of their homes.

“People can now test themselves without requiring a healthcare provider”, says Dr. Akwesigye during the flagging off of the first batch of the locally made testing kits in Kampala.

The Ugandan government has placed an initial order of four million kits through the National Medical Stores (NMS) which is 30 percent of the country’s annual demand.

The Uganda Development Bank (UBD) capitalized the project with $7.5 million (27.5 billion shillings).

The pathogenic sector still has a lot of investment opportunities.

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