Uganda’s Cipla takes bold step to make ‘unpopular’ malaria drug

Quality Chemical Industries Uganda drug production line in Kampala. PHOTO | MORGAN MBABAZI

Uganda pharmaceutical firm, Cipla Quality Chemicals Industries Ltd (CiplaQCIL), is taking a big bet in the war against global Covid-19 pandemic.

The Uganda Securities Exchange (USE)-listed company will this month start production of the controversial anti-malarial drug, hydroxychloroquine, targeting Ugandan coronavirus patients and wider African market.