The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has stated that pharmacists have made a greater contribution to primary healthcare delivery in Ghana than they are formally recognized for, calling for deeper appreciation and integration of the profession into the national health system.

The assertion was made during a goodwill message delivered on behalf of the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Akoriyea Kaba, at the launch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana’s (PSGH) 90th anniversary celebrations held at the forecourt of the Christ Presbyterian Church in Akropong-Akuapem.

Speaking on his behalf, Dr. Claudette A. Diogo of the Office of Pharmaceutical Services described the 90-year journey of the PSGH as one of “science, service, and sacrifice,” highlighting the profession’s longstanding contribution to Ghana’s health system even before independence. She noted that since its founding in 1935, when Ghana was still the Gold Coast, the PSGH has grown from 26 pioneering pharmacists to over 5,000 professionals, making it the oldest learned professional health body in the country.

Dr. Claudette A. Diogo delivered a speech during the 90th Anniversary launch. Click here to see the full speech.

According to the GHS, pharmacists now play a central role in healthcare delivery, with community pharmacies serving as the first point of care for the majority of Ghanaians. It is estimated that more than eight in ten people first seek treatment at pharmacies when ill, underscoring their importance in primary healthcare access. Despite this, the Service suggested that policy recognition has not fully matched the scale of pharmacists’ contribution to health outcomes, particularly in areas such as malaria control, HIV treatment access, maternal health, and antimicrobial stewardship.

The GHS highlighted significant national health gains linked to broader health system efforts involving pharmacists, including a sharp reduction in malaria-related deaths, improved HIV treatment coverage, and strengthened drug safety monitoring systems. It further commended PSGH for its role in shaping pharmaceutical legislation over the decades, including key regulatory frameworks that have guided medicine safety and distribution in Ghana. The Service also praised ongoing initiatives such as the SEAPS Project and PSGH Research Fund, describing them as evidence that the profession continues to evolve and invest in future capacity building.

Reaffirming government’s commitment, the GHS called for deeper collaboration with the PSGH to advance Universal Health Coverage, expand the Pharmacy First model, and further integrate community pharmacies into primary healthcare delivery. The statement concluded with a call for continued partnership between government and the pharmaceutical profession to strengthen Ghana’s health system and ensure equitable access to quality care.