HEPS Uganda, in partnership with Health Action International Africa (HAI Africa), Word Health Organisation (WHO) and Ministry of Health, has monitored medicine prices and availability in Uganda since 2002. The latest quarterly survey was conducted during April-June 2010, highlights of which are presented here.
Why monitor medicine prices?
The price people and governments pay for medicines has major implications for overall access to essential medicines. The evidence generated has informed the formulation of policies aimed at improving transparency, accountability, affordability and availability of essential medicines.

Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Health Action International Africa (HAI-Africa) represented by the Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS-Uganda), has since 2006 conducted medicines prices and availability monitoring in all the four major regions of Uganda. This is part of monitoring the ongoing interventions by the Ministry of Health within the Health Sector Strategic Plan to increase access to essential medicines by all Ugandans.
The purpose of this activity is:
• Show trends in the availability of essential medicines
• The prices (to consumers) of these medicines
• The affordability of these medicines
The Medicines Transparency Alliance (MeTA) in Uganda has supported the further development of this activity with additional funding. This is the report for the survey conducted for the second quarter (April- June) of 2010.