Chapter 6 - Country Study I: Uganda

Summary

Introduction

As reflected on in Chapter 5, the objective of the empirical analysis is to explore the interplay of the human rights and drug-control frameworks in practice. This may help to reveal complexities and gaps, if any, in the international drug-control system relating to human rights in accordance with medicine provision. The present chapter reflects on whether or not Uganda is implementing the administrative and procedural requirements of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs in a manner that complies with human rights. More specifically, the chapter attempts to further the understanding of issues, if any, related to the implementation of a special administration, data collection and management, and specific trade and distribution requirements in relation to the Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability and Quality (AAAQ) standard of healthcare.

To this end, this chapter commences by elaborating on the brief comments on the design and methods that were made in Chapter 5. It contains, for instance, an anonymized respondent chart (Section 6.2). Then, it goes on to provide background information on Uganda necessary to contextualize the findings (Section 6.3). Subsequently, revealing the stories found in practice, the chapter discusses experiences in the provision of pain-control medicines in light of drug-control requirements and human rights norms (Section 6.4).

Design and methodology

As mentioned in Chapter 5, which introduced the general methodology underlying the empirical analysis carried out in both countries, the question central to the case study analysis is:

How, if at all, can States prioritize, promote, and uphold the AAAQ standard of healthcare of medicines in accordance with human rights theory and law, whilst implementing the administrative and procedural requirements of the international drug-control system?

This question presupposes insight into two distinct aspects. First, one needs to generate an in-depth understanding of the context in which the administrative and procedural requirements of the international drug-control system come into play in Uganda. This, in turn, requires insight into Uganda's ‘regulatory chain’ of paincontrol medicines, its institutional and regulatory structure, and the experiences of those working in this system. Second, without establishing any causality, one needs to understand the context of the service provision bearing in mind the AAAQ standard of healthcare when, if at all, relevant.