The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) has called on the Government to subsidise Hydroxyurea, a life-saving medicine used in the management of sickle cell disease, to ensure patients can access treatment without financial barriers.
The call was made during the launch of the PSU Sickle Cell Run 2026 held at Pharmacy House in Kyambogo, ahead of the annual awareness run scheduled for September 20, 2026.
Speaking at the launch, PSU Vice President Dr Nuru Mugide said Uganda has made progress in addressing sickle cell disease but more needs to be done to improve access to essential medicines and strengthen prevention efforts.
“We call for faster scale-up of newborn screening, subsidising Hydroxyurea, and inclusion of sickle cell care in the Government’s free medicines programme,” Dr Mugide said.
He explained that Hydroxyurea remains one of the most effective medicines for managing sickle cell disease because it helps reduce painful crises, hospital admissions and complications associated with the condition.
“Hydroxyurea helps the body produce a special type of haemoglobin that prevents blood cells from sickling. Fewer sickle cells mean fewer pain crises, fewer hospital visits and longer, healthier lives. But it is expensive, and that is why we must act,” he said.
According to PSU, Uganda has one of the highest sickle cell disease burdens in Africa, with approximately 20,000 babies born with the condition annually. Thousands of children die every year due to complications linked to delayed diagnosis and limited access to treatment.
PSU Secretary Dr Stephen Lutoti said the society decided to take action because of the continued loss of lives caused by sickle cell disease.
“Sickle cell disease kills, and therefore we don’t want any life to be lost because of sickle cell disease. It has killed quite a number of people and continues to do so, and we thought as a society we can do something about it,” he said.
Representing the National Medical Stores (NMS) Management and Board, Senior Pharmacist Doreen Basangwa said the organisation is expanding access to sickle cell medicines across the country.
She revealed that NMS currently supplies a dedicated sickle cell medicine package to 72 accredited health facilities and plans to expand the programme to all eligible health facilities beginning in the 2026/27 financial year.
The package includes essential medicines such as Hydroxyurea, Penicillin V (Pen-V) and pain management medicines.
The launch also featured an emotional testimony from Dr Hope Achiro, who lost both her children to sickle cell disease.
Dr Achiro urged couples to undergo genotype testing before starting families, warning that individuals who carry the sickle cell trait should seek genetic counselling before having children.
She shared the emotional and financial burden her family experienced, revealing that she spent more than Shs800 million on treatment, including an unsuccessful bone marrow transplant.
“If you find out that you are a carrier, don’t have children with another carrier. It can save lives and spare families the pain we went through,” she said.
She encouraged Ugandans to participate in awareness campaigns and embrace early screening to understand their sickle cell status.
The PSU Sickle Cell Run 2026, sponsored by AccuLife and EcoMeds, will take place on September 20, starting from Pharmacy House in Kyambogo.
Participants will compete in 5km and 10km races, with registration kits available at MM Pharmacy in Wandegeya and Extra Care Pharmacy in Gayaza at prices ranging from Shs30,000 to Shs50,000.
Proceeds from the run will support the purchase of Hydroxyurea for vulnerable sickle cell patients who cannot afford the medicine.
