Uganda, March 16 -- The late delivery of essential medicines, expiry of drugs, and acute stockouts continue to threaten the operations of key government referral hospitals in north and north-eastern Uganda.

The Monitor has established that Gulu, Mbale, Moroto and Mubende regional referral hospitals have been critically affected.

Ms Chemurian Everlyn, a drug dispenser at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, last week told the Deputy Inspector General of Government, Ms Patricia Achan, that late deliveries of essential medicines by the National Medical Stores (NMS) had resulted in serious setbacks in their operations.

"We have the delivery schedule for receiving drugs from NMS, but we don't receive the items (drugs) requested as stipulated. W...