The Morphine Production Unit at Hospice Africa Uganda is a model facility for low and middle-income countries that are interested in reconstituting their own oral morphine for pain relief. HAU produces oral liquid morphine for the whole of Uganda through a Public Private Partnership arrangement with the government.

In Uganda, oral liquid morphine reconstitution was initially done in a sink and bucket, very simple, yet effective. However, in order to meet Good Manufacturing Practise requirements and with the support of the American Cancer Society’s Treat the Pain program, infrastructural modifications and installation of manufacturing equipment have modernised the premises and process of morphine production. This ensures that HAU reconstitutes morphine of high quality and safety standards for all patients in Uganda who require this opioid medication for the management of moderate to severe pain from cancer, HIV and other illnesses. The upgrades at the Morphine Production Unit (MPU) resulted in an 8-fold increase in the production capacity of HAU thus allowing us to be able to meet the growing demand for the product.

Oral liquid morphine is packed in two different strengths that is 5mg / 5mls (green colour) and 50mg / 5mls (red colour). The green morphine is in two volumes 250mls and 500mls while the red morphine is in 250mls only.

It is supplied to National Medical Stores which is the Government of Uganda main medicines management entity. NMS receives orders from various public health facilities in Uganda. The private not for profit health facilities receive morphine from Joint Medical Stores who are supplied by the National Medical Stores. 

Oral liquid morphine is a free medication in Uganda for all those that needit. Thanks to the Government of Uganda that allocates funds for availability of this medication.