National Drug Authority Integrates Digital Tools into HIV Guidelines for Side Effect Reporting

The National Drug Authority (NDA) is taking steps to improve drug safety monitoring by integrating digital pharmacovigilance tools into Uganda’s Consolidated HIV Guidelines. The move is designed to make it easier for patients and healthcare workers to report medicine side effects quickly and efficiently.

Speaking at a workshop held at Admas Hotel in Entebbe, Dr Helen Byomire Ndagije, the NDA’s Director for Product Safety, emphasized that continuous safety monitoring is vital even after a medication has been approved. Under-reporting remains a global challenge, often exacerbated by heavy workloads faced by medical professionals. Digital solutions aim to bridge this gap, enabling timely information gathering and swift safety interventions.

While Uganda currently records about 100 adverse drug reaction reports per million inhabitants—falling short of the World Health Organization’s recommended 200—the introduction of accessible platforms like the MedSafety App, WhatsApp reporting lines, and direct integrations into VigiFlow and VigiMed is expected to boost participation.

The push for digital integration is backed by local research. Dr Ronald Kiguba, an Associate Professor at Makerere University, shared findings from a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial conducted across 367 HIV clinics. The study evaluated the MedSafety App and proved that the technology significantly improved reporting rates for suspected adverse drug reactions.

Experts noted that utilizing the national HIV programme as a prototype is a strategic approach, as existing guidelines already feature a pharmacovigilance section that can easily accommodate modern digital mechanisms. Authorities hope transitioning these solutions from research papers into active clinical practice will enhance overall public health safety across Uganda. Read more details about this initiative in the Daily Monitor.