New Pharmacists inducted into profession

Accra (Greater Accra), 13 Jan. '99 - Mr Samuel Nuamah Donkor, Minister of Health-designate, said yesterday that problems associated with the provision of incentives and allowances for extra work for all categories of health staff are to be addressed under the Ghana Health Services Law. He said government is very much concerned with the conditions under which health workers operate, adding: "with the implementation of the Price Waterhouse report, it is expected that workers of the ministry will have their problems alleviated''. Mr Nuamah Donkor was addressing 56 newly registered pharmacists who were inducted into the profession in Accra, bringing the total number of pharmacists throughout the country to 1,604. Out of this number, 900 are practising in both the public and private sectors with 75 per cent operating in Accra and Kumasi alone. Mr Nuamah Donkor urged the Pharmacy Council and the Food and Drugs Board to collaborate more effectively in the areas of strengthening quality assurance for drugs ''as the nation is still bedevilled with fake and unregistered drugs.'' He commended the Council for its wonderful performance in the last three years and for opening new offices in Kumasi, Sekondi, Tamale and Koforidua as part of its decentralization programme. Others are the provision of regular continuing education for pharmaceutical service providers including pharmacists and licensed chemical sellers. The Minister was happy that the Council had adopted measures to ensure the equitable distribution of pharmaceutical services throughout the country, especially in Agona Swedru, Somanya, Konongo, Tarkwa, Bolgatanga, Hohoe and Winneba. Mr Nuamah Donkor asked the newly registered Pharmacists to pursue the ideals of honesty, integrity and hard work and be committed to personal development through continuing education to uphold the image of the profession. "You should also not only dispense drugs as happens in most cases but use your acquired knowledge to prepare drugs which will equally compete with the foreign ones". Mr Kwabena Ohene-Manu, chairman of the Pharmacy Council, asked the new professionals to team up with other health workers to better the lives of the people. He was, however, not happy with the placement of Pharmacists in the Price Waterhouse Report and asked the Review Committee to ensure that professionals are put at their appropriate positions commensurate with their work. Mr Michael Awuku-Kwatia, Acting registrar of the Council, said the pharmacy profession is becoming more challenging and patient oriented. As a public health educator, he said, the pharmacist plays an essential role in disease prevention, health education and information, hygiene and in epidemiological surveys. They should also show the highest level of professional competence and integrity in their wide variety of operation in areas such as regulatory control, drug management, hospital, industrial and community pharmacy,

Accra (Greater Accra), 13 Jan. '99 - Mr Samuel Nuamah Donkor, Minister of Health-designate, said yesterday that problems associated with the provision of incentives and allowances for extra work for all categories of health staff are to be addressed under the Ghana Health Services Law. He said government is very much concerned with the conditions under which health workers operate, adding: "with the implementation of the Price Waterhouse report, it is expected that workers of the ministry will have their problems alleviated''. Mr Nuamah Donkor was addressing 56 newly registered pharmacists who were inducted into the profession in Accra, bringing the total number of pharmacists throughout the country to 1,604. Out of this number, 900 are practising in both the public and private sectors with 75 per cent operating in Accra and Kumasi alone. Mr Nuamah Donkor urged the Pharmacy Council and the Food and Drugs Board to collaborate more effectively in the areas of strengthening quality assurance for drugs ''as the nation is still bedevilled with fake and unregistered drugs.'' He commended the Council for its wonderful performance in the last three years and for opening new offices in Kumasi, Sekondi, Tamale and Koforidua as part of its decentralization programme. Others are the provision of regular continuing education for pharmaceutical service providers including pharmacists and licensed chemical sellers. The Minister was happy that the Council had adopted measures to ensure the equitable distribution of pharmaceutical services throughout the country, especially in Agona Swedru, Somanya, Konongo, Tarkwa, Bolgatanga, Hohoe and Winneba. Mr Nuamah Donkor asked the newly registered Pharmacists to pursue the ideals of honesty, integrity and hard work and be committed to personal development through continuing education to uphold the image of the profession. "You should also not only dispense drugs as happens in most cases but use your acquired knowledge to prepare drugs which will equally compete with the foreign ones". Mr Kwabena Ohene-Manu, chairman of the Pharmacy Council, asked the new professionals to team up with other health workers to better the lives of the people. He was, however, not happy with the placement of Pharmacists in the Price Waterhouse Report and asked the Review Committee to ensure that professionals are put at their appropriate positions commensurate with their work. Mr Michael Awuku-Kwatia, Acting registrar of the Council, said the pharmacy profession is becoming more challenging and patient oriented. As a public health educator, he said, the pharmacist plays an essential role in disease prevention, health education and information, hygiene and in epidemiological surveys. They should also show the highest level of professional competence and integrity in their wide variety of operation in areas such as regulatory control, drug management, hospital, industrial and community pharmacy, research, academia, and medical representation. The inducted pharmacists received professional certificates, with Mr Livingstone Kuworda-Benson winning the John Ocran award for being the best Pharmacy student. The award is in recognition and honour of the late John Ocran for his distinguished and pioneering role in uplifting the image of the pharmacy profession in Ghana.