The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has set forth its strategic agenda for the year 2024 during a two-day workshop of the Standing Executive Committee (SEC), Strategic Plan Coordinating Committee, and representatives from various interest groups and committees of the Governing Board, held at the Higher Heights Hotel in Akropong on the 27th and 28th January 2024.

The Priority Areas

This important gathering served as a platform to assess the achievements of the strategic plan and to outline the roadmap for 2024. This year, the PSGH is set to establish a ground-breaking Research Fund, signalling a commitment to propel pharmaceutical research and evidence-based decision making and practice. Simultaneously, the Society is dedicated to bolstering the presence of Pharmacist-owned Pharmacies by offering technical support in the licensing application process, and providing an innovative, hassle-free funding mechanism. Recognizing the pivotal role of leadership in the health sector, the PSGH is also focusing on identifying key positions and building capacity for succession planning, ensuring that pharmacists are ready and well positioned to take up leadership positions in areas of influence. Additionally, the Society will work to proactively source for funding to support pharmacists venturing into the business of small-scale manufacturing of herbal and allopathic medicines, fostering entrepreneurship within the pharmaceutical profession.

PRASMA priority areas

At the Practice group level, PRASMA is set to make a substantial impact by overseeing the comprehensive implementation of its Marketing Code, reflecting its commitment to maintaining ethical standards within the pharmaceutical industry. In a parallel endeavor, PRASMA aims to promulgate a mentorship program designed to guide and nurture young professionals entering the PRASMA space.

CPPA priority areas

Similarly, the CPPA, reaffirms its commitment to elevating healthcare standards through a series of strategic initiatives. At the forefront of their agenda is ensuring widespread accessibility and utilization of their Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures document, aimed at enhancing the overall quality of patient care. Additionally, the CPPA is taking pioneering steps by promoting Pharmacy Intervention Documentation, a crucial aspect in optimizing pharmaceutical services. The group aims to significantly impact patient safety by enrolling 1000 new pharmacies nationwide in the Patient Safety Center Programme initiated by the FDA, showcasing a commitment to robust safety standards. Furthermore, the CPPA is spearheading a pilot for professional services fees and actively encouraging Community Pharmacies to seek accreditation from the National Health Insurance Authority, fostering an integration of health insurance services into community healthcare settings.

IPA priority areas

The Industrial Pharmacists Association (IPA) is gearing up for a transformative year with a strategic emphasis on capacity building and collaboration. IPA plans to bolster its members’ capabilities through targeted training programs, particularly in Quality Assurance and formulation. Also, IPA will engage the FDA to implement the innovative One Production Line-One Pharmacist concept, ensuring a dedicated and qualified oversight for each production line. Furthermore, IPA is set to work closely with relevant stakeholders to advocate for the inclusion of industrial training and attachments during the 6th-year rotation for pharmacy students.

GHOSPA priorities

GHOSPA as a group will focus on advancing pharmaceutical practices and improving the overall conditions of service for its members. With a strategic focus on implementation, GHOSPA aims to ensure adherence to the Standards for pharmaceutical practice, fostering a framework that upholds the highest standards of patient care. The association will undertake a consolidation of data and records of pharmaceutical interventions, facilitating a comprehensive study on the actualization of Pharmacist interventions in hospitals. ASRPA has taken on the crucial responsibility of enhancing the status of the PSGH journal, aiming for international acclaim. ASRPA is determined to achieve global recognition by indexing the journal on prestigious platforms such as Ajol, Scopus, DOAJ, Pubmed, Pubmed Central, and Medline. As a proactive initial step, ASRPA plans to channel research contributions from both undergraduate and postgraduate students into the journal, thereby fostering a diverse and robust range of scholarly content.

ECPG & LAPAG

ECPG and LAPAG have roles to play as well.  ECPG is gearing up to enhance the capabilities of early career pharmacists by focusing on Basic Life Support training and the establishment of a leadership academy, providing crucial skill development opportunities. Complementing this effort, ECPG is initiating a scholarship committee to guide its members towards scholarship opportunities. On the other front, LAPAG is taking a stance on gender diversity, advocating for increased representation of women in leadership positions within the PSGH and beyond. Additionally, LAPAG remains committed to promoting Maternal, Neonatal, and Adolescent Reproductive Health, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive approach to healthcare advocacy.

Background

The PSGH 10-year Strategic Plan document contains a set of goals and ambitions of the Society, the actions needed to achieve those goals and all the other critical elements developed during the planning exercise. Simply, it defines where we want the PSGH and the pharmacy profession to be, and what success will look like by 2025 when fully implemented.

With the fast-increasing numbers of pharmacists and support staff in Ghana, the profession is faced with many challenges including limited good job opportunities, lack of defined guidelines and policies in the performance of duties, lack of recognition as integral members of the healthcare team, lack of access to funding for pharmacy business and local manufacturing, fair remuneration, among others. This informed the need to start thinking differently and look at the profession and how to create opportunities for the current and future generations whiles ensuring professionalism and ethics.