A Kenyan anti-malarial drug has been withdrawn from the Ugandan market.

The Uganda National Drugs Authority has withdrawn the sale and distribution of the drug Dawaquine, manufactured by Dawa Pharmaceuticals of Kenya. The executive director of the authority, Mr A.M. Kabogo, said they had found the drug to be sub-standard.

Various importers, pharmaceutical firms and health units throughout the country have been advised to return the remaining stocks to the local representatives in Uganda, Nobel Health Services.

The authority says Dawaquine failed to meet the required formulation. Mr Kabogo said the authority officials held talks with representatives of Dawa Pharmaceuticals recently after the latter admitted their product was substandard.

"We could not allow any more consignments until the manufacturers improve on their formulation," Mr Kabogo said.

Although Dawaquine has been widely used in Uganda, it was not possible to ascertain how much has already been delivered to up-country health units and drug stores. The local technical representatives of Dawa Pharmaceuticals said they could not determine how much has been imported nor how much has been spent.

The authority also recently approved the distribution and sale of the impotence drug Viagra in Uganda. The first consignment of the Viagra drug was expected in Uganda this week, but deliveries were delayed by shipment from South Africa through Nairobi and onto Kampala.

The local distributors, Eris Pharmaceuticals, said the first consignment will be arriving in the country any time. The set price for the drug in Uganda is $12 per tablet.

The authority has set out compliance rules for the use and supply of the drug.

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