The Ghana Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana has proposed to the government of Ghana to provide support for pharmacists pursuing specialisation at the Ghana College of Pharmacists.
The Society stated that pharmacists in Ghana needed specialised training to improve their expertise in clinical, community, and industrial pharmacy practice.
Executive Member of the Society Dr. Richmond Adusa Poku stated that the training or support for specialization can focus on the manufacturing of vaccines so we will have experts with the ability to help Ghana manufacture its own vaccines.
He called for stronger support for local pharmaceutical manufacturing, particularly in the production of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and other essential medicines.
‘’There should be a stronger collaboration between the government of Ghana and the Society. We appeal to the government to support the Ghana College of Pharmacists so that professionals would be sent to India and other places where they manufacture the vaccines so that they will learn and bring back the experience and knowledge acquired to support the country manufacture its vaccines,’’ he said on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM.
He also proposed that the government provide specialised funding (ring-fencing) for the country’s vaccine procurement this year.
Dr. Adusa Poku stated that just as Health Minister Mintah Akandoh revealed that the country required $25 million for vaccine procurement due to a significant shortfall in vaccine funding as international support begins to dwindle, the government must provide that funding to address this concern.
The situation follows funding cuts to USAID by U.S. President Donald Trump—cuts that have significantly affected the supply of essential drugs and financial support to Ghana’s healthcare system.
‘’In the immediate term, we are appealing to the government to provide ring-fencing that would be handed over to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which is responsible for the purchasing and shipping of vaccines for developing countries. We need that dedicated funding different from the original budget approved for the Ministry of Health towards this agenda.’’
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
