National Drug Authority (NDA) has approved the use of COVIDEX, a local herbal medicine as a supporting treatment for viral infections, including Covid-19.

Addressing journalists at media centre in Kampala, the NDA executive director, Mr David Nahamya said Tuesday that after various assessment and inspection of the factory manufacturing the herbal medicine, they have approved its use to treat the viral infections.

"NDA has granted COVIDEX an approval based on initial assessment, published literature and safety studies conducted by the innovator. The product has been formulated from herbal plants that have been traditionally used to alleviate symptoms of several diseases," Mr Nahamya announced.

However, Mr Nahamya stressed that the medicine does not cure Covid-19 but it can supplement the medicine being used by medics to treat Covid-19 patients.

The drug, made by Mbarara University scientists led by Prof Patrick Ogwang, had generated debate over its efficacy in treating the dreaded Covid-19.

NDA had on June 14, asked the manufacturer of the drug to cease sales citing safety concerns because the medicine had not yet been approved.

However, Daily Monitor has also learnt that the drug, which users claim to be “very effective” against Covid-19 symptoms such as flu, is being ferried to different parts of the country as demand soars.

There is still no proven cure for Covid-19 and all medicines (herbal and pharmaceutical) should be given equal chance, according to the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda.