By CHRISTIAN KPESESE – The Chamber of Pharmacy, Ghana has decried the high taxes charged on some selected pharmaceutical products and medical products which are imported into the country.
According to them the high taxes are inimical to businesses and would ultimately affect the general health delivery in the country since cost are mostly transferred to patients.
The Chamber seeks to promote, protect, pursue and advocate for the collective interest of its members, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public.
Speaking at the formal launch of the Chamber and its five year Strategic Plan, 2015- 2020, in Accra, Chairman of the Chamber Mr Harrison Abutiate called on government to support to pharmaceutical industry to help build a healthy people for nation development.
The priority areas of the five year strategic plan are; to enhance visibility and to build a long lasting and sustainable Chamber of Pharmacy, unify and strengthen relationship among industry players, ensure high standards in the practice of pharmacy through advocacy, advocate for the establishment of requisite structures for Ghana to become the hub for the local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products to cater for the West African sub-region whiles also advocating for the prompt payment of National Health Insurance Scheme monies to service providers.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Foods and Drugs Authority (FDA), Mr Hudu Mongtari called on pharmaceutical industry players to take advantage of the authority`s new ultra-modern laboratory which has met the scope of ISO standards for the testing of drugs in the country.
Chief Executive Officer of IDEAL Groupe, Dr Nii Kotei Dzani advocated for the creation of effective policy framework to fight the menace of fake drugs and finance manufacturing to help grow Ghana`s Pharmaceutical industry.
He urged government to create an enabling environment to facilitate cash inflow and investment into the pharmaceutical industry.
He challenged the pharmaceutical industry to focus on research and development in order to produce more efficacious drugs for the local and foreign markets.
A Deputy Minister for Finance, Mona Quartey assured of government`s determination to support local businesses to thrive whiles creating jobs for the masses.
Membership of the chamber includes Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG), Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesellers Association of Ghana (PIWA), Wholeselers and Distributers not under PMAG/PIWA, Community Practice Pharmacists Association (CPPA), Over- The Counter-Medicine Sellers Association (OTCMS), Pharmacy Owners Association of Ghana (POAGha) and related bodies.
