The leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), led by its President, Pharm. Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh, paid a working visit to the former President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, at his office in Cantoments in Accra. As the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NCD), the  largest opposition party, Mr. Mahama engaged with the PSGH to discuss proposals for inclusion in the party’s manifesto ahead of the upcoming general election. Other  PSGH leaders present included the Hon. Treasurer, Pharm. Dr. Naana Aboagye Asare, Executive member, Pharm. Dr. Richmond Adusa-Poku, and Executive Secretary Pharm. Dr. Dennis Sena Awitty, as well as Pharm. Dr. (Mrs) Martha Gyansa-Lutterodt, a former Director for the Technical Coordination Directorate of the Ministry of Health.

Proposals for Enhancing Pharmaceutical Care Access

The PSGH outlined several key proposals aimed at revolutionizing pharmaceutical care access in Ghana, focusing on integrating community pharmacists into Primary Healthcare architecture of Ghana, the establishment of a national bioequivalence centre for local pharmaceutical manufacturing comapnies support for WHO pre-qualification, recruitment of pharmacists into public health facilities and the provision of scholarship opportunities for postgraduate specialization of pharmacists.

Community Pharmacies as Primary Healthcare Centers

The PSGH emphasized the formal recognition and integration of community pharmacies as primary healthcare centers (PHC). They proposed support for establishing these centers in deprived communities, potentially through interest-free loan facilities for pharmacists. Additionally, upgrading Over-the-Counter Medicines Shops (OTMCS) to full pharmacies, contracting community pharmacies with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to ensure retainership, and expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice to include independent prescribing were also highlighted.

Recruitment of Pharmacists in Public Health Facilities

Addressing the low recruitment of pharmacists compared to other health professionals, the PSGH underscored the increasing number of pharmacy graduates from Ghana’s seven pharmacy training schools. They stressed the need for better integration of these graduates into public health facilities to meet the growing healthcare demands and improve public health outcomes.

Promoting Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

To reduce reliance on imports and enhance public health resilience, the PSGH proposed a comprehensive implementation of the Ghana Pharmaceutical Sector Strategic Plan. This includes establishing a National Bioequivalence Centre, building local workforce capacity for vaccine production, and supporting a pharmaceutical import substitution strategy. The plan also aims to assist existing Ghanaian pharmaceutical companies in meeting WHO current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and support small-scale manufacturing of allopathic and herbal medicines.

Human Resource Capacity Building

The PSGH called for government sponsorship for specialized training in manufacturing, regulatory affairs, commercial pharmaceutical management, and clinical specialty programs. Emphasizing the potential for Ghana to become a hub for medical tourism, they identified critical areas such as critical care, oncology, hematology, rheumatology, cardiology, and infectious disease management that require urgent funding and development.

These initiatives, if included in the NDC’s manifesto, could significantly strengthen the country’s healthcare system and contribute to achieving universal health coverage.

The NDC’s presidential candidate expressed his appreciation and excitement for the PSGH’s visit and their comprehensive proposals. He acknowledged the critical role of the pharmaceutical sector in national health and nation building and tasked the Society with proposing innovative funding solutions for the sector and medical stores to ensure sustainability and effective implementation of the proposed initiatives.