Author: Beyonce Diamond Kpogli
The Rector of Ghana College of Pharmacists, Pharm Yvonne Yirenkyiwaa Esseku has called on the government of Ghana to channel more resources into supporting pharmacists who want to pursue Specialist Pharmaceutical Training.
This, she said, will serve as a financial relief to many who want to pursue this program but are financially constrained.
She observed that a lot of such persons end up deferring the courses which in most cases are not the best option.
She made this known at the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and scientific conference on Tuesday 27th June in Accra.
The meeting dubbed “Building Resilience Into Delivery Of Pharmaceutical Service saw 13 fellows inducted and 12 Specialist Pharmacists graduating.
“We have to put a mechanism in place at this time there are specialist training which is been taken care of by the government, I believe that it is possible to put some kind of financial mechanism in place which will allow the pharmacist to pay over a long period of time without interest. If this is being done it will go a long and I’m very much sure a lot of pharmacists will be ready to take that support.
This will give them the flexibility as a starter. We are aware of the current economic crisis which we know the government can not fund everything”.
According to Pharm. Yvonne Yirenkyiwaa Esseku, there is an urgent need for Specialist Pharmacists across the country.
“We do not have enough specialist pharmacists to support specialist doctors in the country. Specialist doctors are providing major services across the country and they need the support and contribution of specialist pharmacists but these pharmacists have to fully fund the course and when there are constraints they defer the course which becomes a loss to the general public because they do not benefit from that extra expertise and skills the specialist pharmacist will provide,” she explained.
Speaking on the theme: Building Resilience Into Delivery Of Pharmaceutical Service, the Deputy Minister of Health, Hon. Tina Naa Ayeley Mensah noted it is a call in the right direction.
According to her, this will help the country attain universal health coverage, in as much as there is an urgent need for a strong and resilient pharmaceutical delivery system.
Hon. Mensah said the training of Specialist Pharmacists by the Ghana College of Pharmacists has contributed to developing an essential workforce of Specialist Pharmacists in healthcare for all persons in Ghana.
She underscored the challenges facing the college and said that the government has put in place post-COVID-19 economic recovery measures and that the college will not be left out.
Hon. Tina gave the assurance that her outfit will ensure the college receives all the necessary support to deliver its mandate.
She used the opportunity to congratulate the new graduates and encouraged them to be resilient in their work towards humanity.
