Accra, Aug 19, GNA - Plasmotrium, the first rectal anti-malarial capsule for pre-referral treatment in severe malaria, was on Tuesday launched in Accra with a call on Ghanaians to engage self medication with professional pharmacare advise.
The capsule also known as Rectocap, has been considered as the first line treatment due to the active artesunate in the capsule and its capacity for quick absorption when inserted, leading to a rapid clearance of malaria parasite load in the first six hours after use. Rectocap is another product of Mepha, a Swiss Pharmaceutical company, which is effective in children but also have recommended doses for adults who cannot swallow medicines.
Dr Alex Dodoo, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, who gave the advise, said "Every person must identify a pharmacist in his community and relate with him on all matters pertaining to medicine usage and report to him any suspicions about the quality or authenticity of any medicine he buys".
Dr Dodoo, who is also the Chairman of the Food and Drugs Board, noted that pharmacists have been trained to dispense medicines, but expressed concern about some pharmacies that dispensed counterfeit medicines. Mr Joseph Addo Field Force Supervisor of Pharma Info Consult, a health information management consultancy, said unlike other suppositories, Rectocap needed no refrigeration and maintained its perfect shape and size even under extreme conditions. He explained that the capsule was easy to administer by all mothers in emergency situations, with no medically trained personnel required. Mr Noah Acolatse, Chief Executive Officer of Pharma Info Consult, encouraged the media to partner the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that only authentic and efficacious medicines were available to the consuming public. 11 Aug. 09
