Uganda to only receive consumables from Global Fund Halima Athumani Ministry of health Uganda will only receive

consumables under the Global Funds, Dr Jane Ruth Acen, the Director General Health Services has disclosed. Acen says the health ministry will not receive funds for what she termed as toxic areas such as workshops, training and support supervision. She disclosed this while appearing before the health committee of parliament during the presentation of the policy statement of the health ministry.

Dr Acen explained that the Global Funds will be spent on consumable such as anti-retroviral drugs, HIV test kits and anti-malarial among others. She explained that the procurement process will be handled by Global Fund adding that, Uganda will only receive the support in kind save for a few areas such as TB.

According to the Health Ministerial Policy statement 2013/2014 the Global Fund will support the government change in treatment policy for severe malaria. Global Fund has committed 4.5 Million US Dollars towards prompt and effective anti-malaria treatment including 850,000 Dollars for procurement of injectable and rectal artesunate. The statement also shows that Global Funds plans investment into pharmaceuticals and health products worth 119 Million US Dollars for HIV/Aids treatment. Global Fund will also continue supporting the procurement of anti TB drugs.

It has committed 3 Million Dollars and 500,000 Dollars for first the line and second line drugs respectively. The money will be sent to Ministry of Finance for all government hospitals while The Aids Support Organisation will receive funds on behalf of Private not for Profit hospitals countrywide. On the other hand funds sent for the Global Allied Vaccines and Immunisation will be distributed through the Integrated Financial Management System. Dr Acen told the health committee chaired by Kenneth Omona, the Kaberamaido County MP that the Ministry of Finance is currently training all district accountants to send money electronically for easy tracking.

Her comments came after Medard Bitekyerezo, the Mbarara Municipality MP expressed fear that there several items appear to have been duplicated, which he said could lead to the mismanagement of the GAVI funds. On August 23, 2005, Global Fund suspended five grants to Uganda following over alleged mismanagement of the Uganda Global Fund Program. The Country Coordinating Mechanism and

Principal Recipient were asked to suspend all program activities except for the supply of essential lifesaving commodities, and to restructure the implementation arrangements for all programs.

The Program Management Unit was disbanded and an interim arrangement was instituted with a Caretaker Management Firm, Ernst & Young, to oversee program activities. The suspension was lifted on 10th November 2005 when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the GF and Government.