Pharmacy Unit reviews standards for pharmaceutical care

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sylvester Anemana, has called on stakeholders in the pharmaceutical services reviewing the current Standards for Pharmaceutical Care (SPC) to ensure that the document captured the current trends and international best practices.

He said the document being reviewed should also improve policy coordination and its full implementation in the years ahead.

Dr. Anemana made the call at a day’s stakeholders meeting to review the SPC document which was developed in 2002.

The document defines roles, activities and responsibilities in providing standardized pharmaceutical care in all health care institutions in the country. It has provided guidelines on various aspects of pharmaceutical services as well as job descriptions for various grades of pharmacy personnel.

The Chief Director urged the participants to ensure the efficient implementation of the policy document to include shared implementation strategies with time lines as applicable.

“We would do our best to facilitate the financing of the actions originating from this policy, so we can realize our goals and objectives”.

Mr Daniel Amening-Danquah, Head of Education and Training of Pharmacists Council, urged the meeting to consider the safety and effective dispensing of medicines.

“We should not look at only the public health facilities but extend it to the communities as well where much attention and monitoring are needed most”.

Mrs Edith Andrews, Annan National Professional Officer for Medicines at the World Health Organization (WHO), said the document should have been an excellent one if it was implemented fully.

She expressed WHO’s full commitment in supporting the implementation of the revised document.

Mrs Martha Ghansa-Lutroudt, Chief Pharmacist of the Ministry of Health, said standardization was necessary and the practice was evolving and needed to be reviewed to meet international standards.