The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has begun celebrations marking its 90th anniversary with a Maiden Dinner and Awards Night held in Ho. The event celebrated excellence within the profession and included a passionate plea for the government to immediately employ more pharmacists to bolster pharmaceutical service delivery nationwide.

Pharmacists, regulators, and key stakeholders from the Volta and Oti Regions gathered to reflect on the profession’s contributions to public health and address the challenges currently impacting pharmaceutical care.

Dr Pharm. Courage Ketor, Volta and Oti Regional Chairman of the PSGH, voiced concerns over the significant shortage of pharmacists in health facilities. This scarcity, he explained, leads to lengthy queues at hospital pharmacies and Outpatient Departments (OPDs), placing an unsustainable burden on existing staff.

“What we are seeing in many hospitals is long queues at pharmacies and OPDs due to the heavy workload on the few pharmacists available. We are appealing to the minister and government to urgently issue clearance for recruitment so that more pharmacists can join the workforce,” Dr Ketor said.

He emphasized that prompt recruitment would not only reduce patient waiting times but also substantially improve the quality of pharmaceutical services, a crucial factor in patient recovery and well-being.

Acknowledging the dedication of pharmacists, Dr Ketor encouraged newly qualified professionals to consider postings to rural and underserved communities. “As we have done it, we encourage the younger ones to also serve in deprived communities. Their impact will speak for them, and we are ready to receive them and make their stay comfortable,” he added.

However, he also stressed the need for government intervention to make rural postings more appealing. “After six years of pharmacy school and internship, young professionals have expectations. Posting them to deprived areas without incentives makes retention difficult. Government must make it exciting by fulfilling promises of rural allowances, accommodation, and stipends, at least within the first few years of service,” he stated.

Dr. (Pharm) Paul Owusu Donkor, in his address, highlighted the PSGH’s position as the leading professional body for pharmacists in Ghana, and one of the oldest in the country. He noted the vital role pharmacists play as the first point of contact for many Ghanaians seeking healthcare, ensuring the safe and effective use of medication.

Dr Donkor explained that the anniversary celebrations are also a platform to honour pharmacists who have demonstrated exceptional service in various fields, including community pharmacy, hospital practice, the pharmaceutical industry, and education. “By celebrating these stalwarts, we challenge the next generation to bring passion, compassion, and commitment into their work, while strengthening those who continue to go above and beyond in serving the everyday Ghanaian,” he said.

He also reiterated the call for increased investment in local pharmaceutical manufacturing, revealing that Ghana currently produces only approximately 30 percent of its required medicines. Dr Donkor warned that access to medicines is now a matter of national security, urging the government to foster a supportive environment through tax breaks on raw materials, land access, funding, logistics, and technical assistance to boost local production, create jobs, and contribute to the 24-hour economy.

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) reaffirmed its commitment to public health through collaboration with pharmacists in the Volta and Oti Regions. Gameli Goka, a Regulatory Officer at the FDA Volta Regional Office, stated that the Authority works closely with pharmacists on pharmacovigilance and patient safety, particularly in reporting adverse drug reactions.

“These reports allow us to carry out causality assessments and take appropriate regulatory action where necessary to protect public health,” he explained. Mr Goka added that the FDA actively collaborates with pharmacists to combat substandard and falsified medicines, responding swiftly to reported cases. The Authority is also expanding training programs and designating community pharmacies as patient safety centers, extending pharmacovigilance education to other healthcare professionals.

The awards night recognized outstanding pharmacists for their contributions to healthcare in Ghana, underscoring the PSGH’s dedication to quality pharmaceutical care, patient safety, and national health security as it enters its 90th year of service.

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