PSGH boosts drug supplies

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has donated medical consumables to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in further support of the burnt Central Medical Store in Tema and recent flood and fire victims in Accra.

The medicines, donated by nine pharmaceutical companies- M&G Pharmaceuticals Limited, Osons Chemist Limited, Kama Health Services Limited, Lymens Medical Supplies, Unicom Chemist Limited, Amponsah-Efah Pharmaceuticals Limited, Pharmanova Limited, Lagray Chemical Company- formed part of the second batch of donations to the MoH by the PSGH valued at about GH¢254,730.

Government has and continues to receive donations from several corporate organisations running into several thousands of Ghana cedis towards the support of the June 3 disaster victims.

From January 13, 2015, when the Ministry of Health Central Medical Stores at Tema was razed down by fire until the current flood incident, the PSGH and its partners have donated drugs to the ministry valued at about GH¢730, 890.50.

Presenting the consumables at the Central Medical Store located along the Spintex Road on Tuesday in Accra, President of PSGH, James Ohemeng-Kyei, recounted the several supports that the pharmaceutical industry in the country has rendered to government in recent times.

He said the donations which came in two batches were made towards mitigating the impact of the flood and fire outbreak on the delivery of quality healthcare in Ghana.

“The PSGH appealed to pharmaceutical companies to donate drugs to support the Ministry of Health to mitigate the impact of the fire outbreak on health care delivery in Ghana,” the pharmacist stated.

“The first batch of donation of essential medicines was valued at GH¢476,160. Subsequently, PSGH received donations of essential medicines from nine pharmaceutical companies valued at GH¢254,730 which formed part of the second batch of donations to the Ministry of Health,” he said.

“This will bring the total cost of the donated medicines to GH¢ 730.890.50,” he added.

Proposal

As a measure to help replace the about GH¢ 237 million worth of drugs that were reportedly destroyed at the MoH’s Central Medical Stores at Tema, Mr Ohemeng-Kyei submitted a proposal to government to help raise a cash amount of about GH¢50 million towards the MoH Drug Replacement Fund which the PSGH launched during the tenure of then Minister of Health, Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah.

He also appealed to all Ghanaians to donate not less than GH¢1 towards the fund.

Receiving the items, the Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia, described the gesture by the pharmaceutical companies as a patriotic stance.

He said the donations would go a long way in affording the ministry to meet the needs of the victims.