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| Uganda opens first HIV drug plant | Uganda opens first HIV drug plant |
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| A factory that will produce treatments for HIV/Aids is opening in Uganda, the first of its kind in East Africa. | |
| It aims to reduce the cost of the vital medication by cutting import costs. | It aims to reduce the cost of the vital medication by cutting import costs. |
| Locally produced anti-retroviral HIV drugs and anti-malaria drugs should be available by January, Uganda's health minister told the BBC's Network Africa. | Locally produced anti-retroviral HIV drugs and anti-malaria drugs should be available by January, Uganda's health minister told the BBC's Network Africa. |
| President Yoweri Museveni will open the plant in the capital, Kampala. Uganda has won praise for its vigorous campaign against HIV/Aids. | President Yoweri Museveni will open the plant in the capital, Kampala. Uganda has won praise for its vigorous campaign against HIV/Aids. |
| Transport costs | Transport costs |
| Health Minister Stephen Malinga told the BBC the aim was to reduce Uganda's reliance on expensive imports of vital HIV/Aids and malaria treatments from foreign countries. | Health Minister Stephen Malinga told the BBC the aim was to reduce Uganda's reliance on expensive imports of vital HIV/Aids and malaria treatments from foreign countries. |
| The challenge is to make sure that the production is followed by a good distribution system that makes sure that the drug can reach all corners of the country Leonard OkelloActionAid International | The challenge is to make sure that the production is followed by a good distribution system that makes sure that the drug can reach all corners of the country Leonard OkelloActionAid International |
| Sub-Saharan Africa has the world's highest rates of HIV/Aids and malaria. | Sub-Saharan Africa has the world's highest rates of HIV/Aids and malaria. |
| Ugandan drugs importer Quality Chemicals will produce the medicines locally with Indian pharmaceutical company Cipla, one of the world's largest producers of generic drugs. It hopes to sell them in Uganda and other African countries. | Ugandan drugs importer Quality Chemicals will produce the medicines locally with Indian pharmaceutical company Cipla, one of the world's largest producers of generic drugs. It hopes to sell them in Uganda and other African countries. |
| "[Ugandans] will have access to a regular supply of medication and also we hope it will be cheaper, because we will be eliminating the element of transportation and manufacture in foreign countries," Dr Malinga said. | "[Ugandans] will have access to a regular supply of medication and also we hope it will be cheaper, because we will be eliminating the element of transportation and manufacture in foreign countries," Dr Malinga said. |
| Leonard Okello, from aid group ActionAid International, told the BBC that distributing the treatment was the biggest hurdle to overcome. | Leonard Okello, from aid group ActionAid International, told the BBC that distributing the treatment was the biggest hurdle to overcome. |
| "The important thing is for the tablet to get on to the table..." he said. | "The important thing is for the tablet to get on to the table..." he said. |
| "The challenge is to make sure that the production is followed by a good distribution system that makes sure that the drug can reach all corners of the country." | "The challenge is to make sure that the production is followed by a good distribution system that makes sure that the drug can reach all corners of the country." |
| Many African countries import anti-retroviral treatments from foreign pharmaceutical companies. | Many African countries import anti-retroviral treatments from foreign pharmaceutical companies. |
| In South Africa, some companies already produce the treatments. | |
| Other sub-Saharan African countries including Ghana, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia are working to start local production of the drugs. | Other sub-Saharan African countries including Ghana, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia are working to start local production of the drugs. |
| Access to affordable and effective medicines, which is already a huge challenge, is becoming increasingly unreliable. | |
| In Africa, there are no national healthcare systems pay for drugs. | |
| African countries have traditionally turned to Indian companies, which produce copies of drugs designed in the West at lower prices. | |
| According to World Health Organization figures, only 41% of Ugandans who need anti-retroviral therapy receive the treatment. | According to World Health Organization figures, only 41% of Ugandans who need anti-retroviral therapy receive the treatment. |
| After reaching a peak of 30% in the 1990s, Uganda has cut its HIV/Aids figures to single digits. | After reaching a peak of 30% in the 1990s, Uganda has cut its HIV/Aids figures to single digits. |