Pharmaceutical companies urged to accept social responsibility

Agona Swedru, Oct 18, GNA- Mr Max Dodd, Marketing research Officer of the KinaPharma Company Limited has called on the drug manufactures to discharge their social responsibilities effectively. He said the company's acceptance to sponsor this year Premier League and other health programmes are meant for tax rebate to enable it perform its social responsibilities.

Mr Dodd was answering questions by chemical sellers from Agona, Gomoa, Awutu-Effutu-Senya and the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Districts about the huge sums of money being used to sponsor sports at a workshop in Swedru.

The workshop was organized by the Company and sponsored by the Ghana Health Service, USAID and John Hopkins University of USA. He said the company interceded to reduce the pressure and criticisms, which would have been put on the Ghana Football Association and the government by sponsoring the premier league.

He stressed that the company has adopted effective marketing strategies to bring its products to the doorsteps of customers. Mr Dodd announced that Agents and Distribution centres would be opened in Cape Coast, Winneba and Agona Swedru to reduce the problems of chemical sellers who buy products of the company.

He asked the chemical sellers to abide by the rules and regulations governing the sale of drugs so that no problems would be given to their patients.

Mr Dodd dispelled rumours that prices of the company's products had been increased raised to earn more money to sponsor sports and other programmes.

Mr Abeeku Appiah, Senior Pharmacist of the Company, who was a resource person cautioned chemical sellers to be careful about drugs they buy to avert likely complications for their customers.

He asked them to stop buying cheap drugs since most of them were not up to standard and could create health problems for users.

Mr Appiah warned them not to prescribe drugs for children under three months old in the shops but to refer them to health institutions.

He said the company would organise seminars for chemical sellers to update their knowledge and to enhance their businesses.

Mr Augustine Owusu-Asante, Acting Central Regional Officer of the Ghana Pharmacy Council, urged them to take the seminar seriously to enhance their businesses.

He urged them to take a critical look at the problem of malaria and to help find a lasting solution to it, adding that, malaria is the major cause of death in the country.