The sale of orthodox medicines in moving vehicles and on the open market is according to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) a breach of the pharmacy law as it poses a high security risk to buyers.
The society said the standard of giving out medications to patients in Ghana must be permitted only through licensed premises which should be a pharmacy and an over the counter medication shop.
Speaking at the launch of the 2018 World Pharmacy Day in Accra yesterday, Dr. Daniel Amaning Danquah, a Deputy Registrar in charge of operations at the Pharmacy Council stated that anyone who wants to buy medications must do so at the approved places.
He said although there have been gradual improvements to curb drug peddling, the public was still creating markets for peddlers by buying from them.
Dr. Danquah said it was about time the law empowers the police to arrest persons selling medications at unauthorised places.
A deputy minister for health, Mr. Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu who launched the celebration urged pharmacists to put in their very best in helping to meet and address the needs of every Ghanaian who needs their services.
He asked pharmacists to devise strategies to treat patients with complex conditions by tailoring their educations to optimise patient care.
The health ministry he noted, would make policies that would aid in continued improvement in the skills, competencies and expertise of pharmacists.
Mr. Benjamin Kwame Botwe, President of the PSGH, observed that globally, the roles of pharmacists have evolved from being the makers, prepares, dispensers and custodians of medicines to prescribers in group practice with general medical practitioners providing vaccination and immunisation services in communities.
Reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO) has indicated that globally, more that 50 per cent of all medicines are prescribed, dispensed and sold inappropriately, while 50 per cent of patients fail to take their medications correctly.
He stated that more pharmacists were needed to ensure the effective usage of medicines by ensuring that medicines are prescribed appropriately and taken correctly by patients.
Mr. Botwe said the society expects the Ministry of Health and its related agencies to give pharmacy graduants the needed incentives to motivate them and help them deliver effective pharmaceutical care to patients.
The World Pharmacist Day is celebrated every year to highlight the role of pharmacists in ensuring patients safety through responsible supply and use of medicines.
It seeks to raise awareness about the responsibilities of pharmacists and what the public should expect from them.
This year’s celebration will be celebrated on the theme,’ Pharmacist: Your medicine experts globally’ and will be observed in Ghana with activities such as health talks, adherence clinics, blood donation, deworming exercises,medication use and reviews among others.
By Linda Naa Deide Aryeetey
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