The role of public health law in the control of non-communicable diseases in Uganda

Abstract

The increased cases of NCDs in Uganda have become a threat to lives of many people in both urban and rural areas, despite various efforts which have been put in place. Consequently, there is still a need to document what public health laws and policy frameworks have contributed in the fight against NCDs. Four main objectives were used to guide this study and these were to: analyze the public health policy, legal and institutional frameworks in prevention and management of NCDs; carry out a comparative analysis of international instruments and national legal frameworks; assess the level of awareness and public’s perception on public health law towards regulation aimed at fighting NCDs; and examine the main setbacks facing efforts to implement the existing legislation on control of NCDs in Uganda. The study was buttressed by a human rights-based approach emphasizing the fact that it is the primary duty of the government to provide NCDs prevention. A sample of 20 professional participants was used on a descriptive case study design. The study established that the government of Uganda has a number of public health laws in place aiming at everting the scourge of NCDs. However, some of these laws have never been updated since they were made in 1960s, while some lack implementation mechanisms. The study concludes that albeit Uganda has put in place public health laws, some of these laws are outdated and outmoded while others lack adequate implementation. The study thus recommends repeal or reform of existing laws in order to bring them in concordance with the challenges posed by NCDs. The study also calls for effective implementation of the few progressive policies and other interventions in order to effectively tackle the NCDs. This can be done by increasing the budgetary allocation and human capital to the Ministry of Health as an institution, which is mandated to reduce NCDs in the country. The government should also increase network synergies through which awareness and access to medical services against NCDs can reach the people. These among others include worship places, national and regional fora like televisions radios and academic institutions such as schools.