42,000 dozes of Anti-Retro Viral drugs worth 936 million shillings expired in the National Medical Stores (NMS), the State Enterprises, Commissions and Statutory Authorities committee of parliament has heard.
The committee chaired by John Odit, summoned the National Medical Stores board of directors, to explain the gross mismanagement of public funds and how the ARV's could have expired amid high demand.
The NMS Chairman Board of Directors, Philip Byaruhanga, said the ARVs procured under the Global Fund program, expired on 30th April. He however said that the matter was brought to the attention of the board in July 2006.
Byaruhanga told the committee that the board instituted a committee to probe the expiry of the ARV's and would report back soon, on the action to be taken.
The technical planning committee chairman, Prof Marcel Otim, blamed the expiry of the 42,000 dozes of ARVs, to the large volumes of drugs being handled by the National Medical Stores.
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Committee members have proposed that the National Medical Stores should be privatized, to improve efficiency in the procurement and distribution of drugs.
