Health 9 September 2026 Parliament of Uganda
Busoga Hospitals Face Critical Sickle Cell Drug Shortages, Health Committee Alarmed
Hospitals in Uganda's Busoga sub-region have been without essential sickle cell disease (SCD) medications for up to four months, a situation that has deeply concerned the Parliament's Health Committee. The unavailability of key drugs like Hydroxyurea is significantly impacting patient care and exacerbating the challenges faced by individuals with SCD. Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/index.php/news/4609/health-committee-irked-stock-out-sickle-cell-drugs-busoga
The Health Committee of the Parliament of Uganda has expressed strong dissatisfaction following the discovery of a severe drug stock-out affecting sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in the Busoga sub-region. For approximately four months, critical medicines, including Hydroxyurea, have been unavailable in several key health facilities.
During an oversight visit on Monday, September 8, 2026, committee members, led by Deputy Chairperson Hon. Hope Nakazibwe, found that Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Mpumudde Health Centre IV, and Buwenge General Hospital were out of Hydroxyurea. This drug is vital for managing SCD, as recommended by the World Health Organization, helping to reduce painful crises, hospitalizations, and mortality.
Jinja Hospital alone serves over 2,000 SCD patients monthly, and the lack of affordable medication poses a significant financial burden on ordinary families. “For an ordinary Musoga, how many do we expect to afford these special specialised medicines on their own, it is next to impossible,” stated Hon. Sarah Lwansasula.
Mathias Mayanja, Jinja Hospital’s Senior Pharmacist, explained that despite efforts to secure the drug through the National Medical Stores (NMS) and directives for local manufacturing, the supply chain has failed. The hospital is also experiencing shortages of third-line antiretroviral drugs, further straining its resources.
Hon. Nakazibwe reiterated the committee’s call for the government to prioritize SCD, referencing a parliamentary motion passed in March 2026. The committee also highlighted broader infrastructural issues, such as prolonged breakdowns of essential equipment like CT scanners and oxygen plants, and questioned the hospital’s readiness to utilize newly acquired specialized medical personnel without the necessary supporting technology.
The committee’s findings underscore a critical gap in essential healthcare provision for a vulnerable population in the Busoga region.