Critical medicines used to care for sick newborns are currently out of stock at Uganda’s National Medical Stores, according to the Ministry of Health’s Aug. 14, 2026, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health commodity report.
The report lists caffeine citrate, surfactant and cefotaxime injection among newborn commodities with no stock or critically low availability at NMS. Health facilities have been directed to contact NMS to prioritise replenishment.
The shortages are particularly concerning because these commodities are used in the care of vulnerable newborns, including babies who require treatment for serious complications.
The report does not give a date for when new supplies of the affected newborn commodities are expected to arrive, leaving facilities to rely on redistribution and existing stocks elsewhere in the system.
Health officials are encouraging facilities with excess supplies to share commodities with those facing shortages and to use the Online Facility Stock Status Report to provide real-time information on availability.
The problem is not limited to newborn medicines. The same report shows significant gaps in other maternal and child health commodities, including Mama Kits and measles-rubella vaccines.
Source: Uganda Ministry of Health, RMNCAH Commodity Stock Status Report, Aug. 14, 2026.
