The Ministry of Health has announced a ban on the importation of 142 drugs into Ghana. This decision has sparked a lot of reactions from the Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy and the Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesalers Association of Ghana. These two groups represent the interests of the pharmacists who import and distribute drugs in the country.
The pharmacists are not opposed to the idea of limiting the importation of drugs that can be locally produced. However, they are worried about the potential implications of the ban on the health and welfare of the Ghanaian people. They are calling for a more careful and comprehensive approach to the implementation of the ban.
In a press conference held in Accra, the spokespersons of the pharmaceutical groups recalled their previous cooperation with the ministry during the ban on the first 49 drugs. They said that they had a fruitful stakeholder meeting with the ministry, where they were able to identify the drugs that had local production capacity. They also agreed on a timeline and a mechanism for the transition from importation to local production.
However, the pharmacists lamented that the ministry did not consult them before announcing the ban on the additional 142 drugs. They said that this was a breach of trust and a disregard for their contributions to the health sector. They also expressed doubts about the readiness and capability of the local manufacturers to produce the banned drugs without compromising on the quality and availability of the drugs.
The pharmacists appealed to the ministry to engage them in a constructive dialogue to review the list of the banned drugs and to ensure a smooth and effective transition to local production. They said that they were willing to support the government's vision of promoting local manufacturing and reducing the dependency on imported drugs. However, they also stressed the need to protect the health and well-being of the Ghanaian people.
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