The Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has pledged to support the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana to improve local production as the nation strives to become a pharmaceutical hub.
He said lessons learnt from the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic reinforce the need for the country to work out modalities that put the sector in good standing in times of need, especially the production of vaccines.
Dr Bawumia who is convinced that Ghana can produce its own medicines to meet demands pledged his commitment to work with the society to find ways to fund the establishment of a production hub.
He made these remarks when he engaged the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana in Accra.
Over the past few weeks, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has been engaging some recognised groups and associations in the country to get first-hand information of their concerns and also share his vision as he courts their support for the upcoming general elections.
In his engagement with the Ghana Pharmaceutical Society among others, Dr Bawumia said the government recognising the importance of health has over the years invested in the sector by introducing several measures.
These include the One District One Ambulance, Drones delivery of essential medicines and the E- Pharmacy which has seen about 140 Pharmacies enrolled on the platform.
He said Ghana already has the market for the pharmaceutical industry, the onus however lies on stakeholders to invest more into the sector to make it more vibrant. He lauded some of the proposals made by the pharmaceutical society.
President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh said although trained in the country have the capacity to contribute to national development, they are constrained by some challenges. He outlined some of the concerns.
Health Minister designate, Dr. Okoe Boye in a remark said the proposal to upscale some medicines into the National Health Insurance Scheme will be discussed for mutual benefit.
