The District Health Officer of Wakiso District, Dr. Emmanuel Mukisa, has urged the National Drug Authority (NDA) to take action against herbalists falsely claiming to be Tuberculosis (TB) doctors.

During an interview with journalists on August 1, 2024, Mukisa said herbalists are scamming patients with counterfeit medications, contributing to a surge in TB cases within the district.

“They falsely assert that their herbal remedies are faster-acting and capable of providing a permanent cure, which is untrue,” he said.

’’These herbalists buy legitimate TB drugs, crush them, and mix them with local herbs, creating a dangerous concoction that poses significant health risks. This practice can exacerbate the disease, making it more severe or chronic if not treated properly, ultimately resulting in death,’’ disclosed Dr. Mukisa.

He stated that many patients return to hospitals in critical condition, complicating the efforts of qualified medical professionals who struggle to treat them effectively, especially when the patients’ conditions have become irreversible.

Dr. Mukisa further urged the NDA to intervene in this matter because the patients are being scammed and made to pay a lot of money for these fake concoctions that they sell to them.

’’NDA needs to come to Wakiso district and arrest these culprits, but before that, it should also purchase samples of the herbal concoctions for laboratory testing to expose the harmful substances being marketed to patients,’’ said Dr. Mukisa.