Pharm. Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) is calling on the government to recruit at least 1,000 pharmacists to address the critical shortage in public health institutions.
According to the group, since 2020 there has been no new recruitment into the public health institutions.
“In the last recruitment exercise, only 300 out of 51,000 healthcare professionals were pharmacists, significantly undermining the quality of healthcare across the nation.
Currently, there are fewer than 1,000 pharmacists working in public hospitals and institutions,” they mentioned.
President of PSGH, Pharm. Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh, emphasised the urgent need for the government to fill existing vacancies and improve working conditions, particularly in underserved regions, to ensure equitable access to pharmaceutical care.
He further urged the government to uphold fairness in ongoing negotiations regarding public sector pharmacists’ conditions of service, stressing that compensation should accurately reflect the critical contributions pharmacists make to the healthcare system.
Pharm. Dr. Kow Donkoh also called on the government to expedite payments for the 2022 pharmacists who completed their compulsory 12-month housemanship months ago to prevent future delays.
He proposed the forming of a collaborative committee involving the PSGH, Ministry of Health, Pharmacy Council, and Ministry of Finance to ensure timely postings and payments.
He also advocated for the formal integration of community pharmacies into the national primary healthcare system.
“With over 5,000 pharmacies nationwide, these facilities could serve as primary access points for healthcare, especially in underserved areas,” while proposing the adopting of a “Pharmacy First” policy to recognise community pharmacies as the initial contact for minor illnesses.
This integration, he said, should include data capture within the national health database and involvement in public health initiatives such as malaria control and national immunisation campaigns.
Additionally, establishing a contractual framework with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to reimburse services provided by community pharmacies is crucial, as currently only 150 out of 5,035 pharmacies are covered.
He also called for a review of policies concerning Over-the-Counter Medicine Shops, particularly in urban and suburban areas.
According to Pharm. Dr. Kow Donkoh, upgrading these facilities to functioning pharmacies would enhance access to professional pharmaceutical care across communities.
He further urged the government to take decisive action against illegal mining to protect water resources and ensure the sustainability of local pharmaceutical production, which is essential for affordable and accessible primary healthcare.
Pharm. Dr. Kow Donkoh made these demands at the recently held Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.
The event, which was held from 24th to 27th September 2024, coincided with the World Pharmacists Day themed; “Pharmacists-Meeting Primary Health Care Needs”.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke