The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG) has expressed disappointment over the reactions of the Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy and the Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesalers Association of Ghana to the proposed import ban on 142 drugs by the Ministry ofHealth.
While the pharmacists are not rejecting the idea of restrictions, they are advocating for a careful and thorough approach to prevent any unintended consequences that could affect the health and well-being of the Ghanaian population.
During a press conference in Accra, representatives from the pharmaceutical groups underscored their previous collaboration with the ministry during the ban on the initial 49 drugs.
They stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement during such processes, which allows wholesalers to identify drugs that can be locally manufactured.
Lucia Addai, the Executive Secretary of PMAG, stated in an interview on Eyewitness News that the associations had been consulted about the ban.
She also affirmed that PMAG has the capacity to meet the country’s needs.
Responding to whether PMAG had the capacity or not, she said, “that has been answered at the committee level of which the chamber and the Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesalers Association were part. We have been engaging for over the past four years, assessing capacity, looking at molecules and scheduling to ensure that there will be no shortage. And because we have the capacity, the ministry has supported this.”
“So I am disappointed that after all these engagements over a period of four years you come out with a press statement to sort of mar the whole process and make everybody look bad as though to say that we are taking your business from you when we have given you the opportunity to do contract manufacturing with us in your brand. When we have had the FDA, we have done a lot of consultations, we have spent a lot of time and resources to ensure that we have a roadmap leading to this restriction and you come out and make it seem like you have not been engaged.”