Pharmacists: We're not against regulation of health practice

Accra, April 27, GNA - The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana on Thursday said it is in no way against the regulation of health practices in the country.

It has, therefore, called for the restructuring and reactivation of the Private Hospitals and Maternity Homes Board to ensure that existing and emerging unregulated practices, were streamlined in the interest of the wider public.

Mr John Arthur, President of the Society, who was speaking in Accra at a news conference, noted that there are problems facing the health care delivery system, but the solution calls for the concerted efforts of all health care providers.

The press conference served as a forum for pharmacists to react to some statements by Professor Agyeman Badu Akorsa, President of the Ghana Medical Association, against pharmacy practice in the country.

According to the President of the Society, Prof. Akorsa sought to give the impression that pharmacists could not dispense any drug without a doctor's prescription. "He also made other allegations against pharmacists," he said.

Mr Arthur said the press conference was to provide relevant information to the public so as to disabuse their minds and remove any confusion that might have been caused by the recent pronouncements by the Professor.

He said the pronouncement, "sought overtly or covertly to bring the image of pharmacy practice and pharmacists into disrepute." He said while other statutory regulatory boards have not been able to function, the Pharmacy Board and Pharmacy Council have at their respective periods effectively monitored and generally overseen the operation of private pharmacies and licensed chemical sellers.

"The Pharmacy Act 489 (1994) sets the legal framework for the training, registration, continuing professional development and practice of the pharmacists."

Mr Arthur said even though there are classifications of drugs to be sold without or with prescription, pharmacists worldwide are allowed by law to dispense "prescription only medicines" (POMs) by way of emergency treatment.

"Also as a matter of policy, pharmacists are allowed to dispense POMs without prescription in the treatment of specified conditions, which have public health implications such as the syndromic treatment of sexually transmitted diseases."

The President of the Society, appealed to Parliament to seriously consider removing VAT from all pharmaceutical raw materials to help bring down the cost of locally produced drugs.