Where’s the evidence that we are doing more? Pharmacy Council registrar demands data and professional accountability at 3CPMC 2025 Launch

Accra, July 2, 2025 — At the launch of the 3rd Community Pharmacy Month Celebration (3CPMC 2025), the Registrar of the Pharmacy Council, Pharm. Michael Kudebong Esq., delivered a hard-hitting speech that challenged pharmacists to back their bold claim—“We Are Doing More”—with verifiable evidence and professional accountability.

Speaking at the British Council Hall in Accra, the Registrar described the event not as a ceremonial gathering, but as a moment for “robust reflection and institutional renewal.” He called on the Community Practice Pharmacists Association (CPPA) to examine whether the expansion in pharmacy services is legally compliant, ethically grounded, and professionally sound.

“When we say we are doing more, we must interrogate that statement,” he said. “What exactly are we doing more of? For whom? And is it making the impact we claim?”

The Problem with Undocumented Progress

The Registrar warned that despite commendable developments—like pharmacists providing health screenings, vaccinations, medication therapy management, and using digital tools like the E-Pharmacy—most of these interventions remain undocumented.

“From a regulatory standpoint, undocumented services are invisible services,” he declared. “They cannot be measured, evaluated, or used to influence health policy. And that raises accountability concerns.”

He argued that in an era of evidence-based policymaking, the profession cannot afford to rest on anecdotes or assumptions. “Simply saying we are doing more is not enough. We must demonstrate it.”

Doing More Is Not Always Doing Better

Pharm. Kudebong emphasized that expansion of services should not be mistaken for effectiveness. “It is entirely possible to do more and still achieve little,” he stated. “Quantity must give way to quality, relevance, and sustainability.”

He urged community pharmacists to ensure that their services are aligned with national health priorities, genuinely meet patient needs, and uphold the highest standards of professional conduct.

Clarifying the Call: Who Are We Asking to Consult Us?

The Registrar posed a critical question to practitioners: Who exactly are we inviting when we say, “Consult your pharmacist”? He defined three primary client groups: patients, other healthcare professionals, and government or policymakers.

Each of these stakeholders has different expectations. For patients, availability and clinical competence are essential. For other health professionals, pharmacists must offer evidence-based insights and collaborative input. For policymakers, pharmacists must show data-driven impact to influence national strategy.

“Consultation is not earned by title alone,” he said. “It is sustained through professionalism, competence, and proof of impact.”

Are We Prepared to Be Consulted?

Citing concerns about pharmacist absenteeism at practice sites, he stated bluntly: “Pharmacist presence in facilities is nothing to be proud of. It undermines the entire premise of consultation.”

He outlined four requirements for being truly ready to be consulted: presence, competence, ethics, and legal compliance. These, he argued, form the bedrock of public trust.

Pharmacy Council’s Role and Reforms

According to the registrar, the Pharmacy Council is implementing a series of reforms to support a more professional, ethical, and accountable pharmacy sector. These include the digitization of regulatory systems to enhance transparency, a comprehensive review of the PharmD curriculum with a particular focus on experiential training, and the strengthening of the fitness-to-practice framework. The Council is also tightening enforcement around Continuing Professional Development (CPD) compliance, intensifying supervision and monitoring of pharmacy practice sites, and partnering with key stakeholders to strategically position pharmacists within national health initiatives such as MahamaCares.

Rising to the Challenge

Pharm. Kudebong called on pharmacists to live up to the message of the campaign slogan—not only through words, but through evidence and action.

“Let the call to consult your pharmacist be more than a slogan. Let it be a reflection of who we are, what we do, and how we do it.”

He expressed hope that the ideas and partnerships emerging from this year’s Community Pharmacy Month would institutionalize professional and ethical integrity across the sector.