The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has proposed the integration of licensed community pharmacies into the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) credentialled facilities, in line with the Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) program implementation.
The demand is to ensure satisfactory access to essential medicines and enhance the capacity of pharmacists when the primary healthcare program takes off.
The PSGH President, Mr Samuel Kow Donkoh, raised the issue during a meeting with the NHIA Executive Management and representatives of the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Accra on Monday.
He said the proposal aims to ensure that primary healthcare services will reach a wider population, predominantly in underserved areas.
“By integrating community pharmacies into the policy, we believe that the quality and accessibility of healthcare services can be significantly enhanced because community pharmacies have long served as the first point of contact for many citizens seeking healthcare, particularly for common ailments.
They have built trust with the public, making them ideal partners in primary healthcare delivery,” he said.Mr. Donkoh cited examples of countries where similar integration has been successful, underscoring the potential benefits for Ghana and the need for community pharmacies to be formally recognised and appropriately reimbursed for their services.
The Deputy Executive Secretary of PSGH, Dr Henry Amoaning Okyere, in a presentation, said efforts to promote quality universal primary healthcare have been faced by multiple systematic and operational challenges as the health system is overburdened.
He indicated that a large portion of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) funds is consumed by outpatient visits, including minor ailments and non-emergency cases – services that could be safely and cost-effectively managed at the community pharmacy level.
He proposed the inclusion of pharmacist-led services under the NHIS coverage to reduce out-of-pocket spending by using capitation or bundled payment models for defined categories such as hypertension follow-ups and medication therapy management.
Dr Okyere stated that by integrating pharmacies into public health networks, Ghana can unlock private sector capacity for immunisation, noncommunicable disease (NCD) care, and family planning.”Community pharmacies already serve hard-to-reach areas lacking community-based health planning and services (CHPS) or clinics, advancing health equity,” he said, adding that “their full integration supports job creation and local investment and aligns with Ghana’s Universal Health Coverage Roadmap and National Health Policy (2020).”
The Acting Director of Pharmacy at the MoH, Mr Saviour Yevutsey, recognised the critical role community pharmacies play in the healthcare system, noting that the proposal aligns with the ministry’s effort to expand access to healthcare services.
However, he stressed the need for careful planning and implementation to ensure that the integration is seamless and effective.
The Senior Director in Charge of Special Initiatives at the NHIA, Dr Anthony Gingong, emphasised the role of the NHIA as a purchaser of healthcare services and noted that discussions on service provision and payment should involve key stakeholders, including the Ghana Health Service, Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), and private providers.
The Senior Technical Advisor to the NHIA CEO on the Free Primary Healthcare Policy, Dr Chris Atim, welcomed the proposal and provided strategic guidance on aligning the PSGH’s proposal with the policy objectives.
He charged the PSGH to map out areas where pharmacies are willing to provide these services and provide names for further consideration.Rtd Public Health Advisor, Dr Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, stated that while the initiative is promising, it is crucial to identify and address potential barriers, misconceptions, and bottlenecks to ensure its success and sustainability.
The meeting concluded with agreements on prioritising community pharmacies in underserved areas for integration and fine-tuning services and payment methodologies before the launch of the policy in September.
Credit: NHIA
