<<Print>>

The Chamber of Pharmacy Ghana has stopped the supply of medicines on credit to all health facilities under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), effective August 1. Mr Stanley Adjei, Head of Research, Chamber of Pharmacy made this known in an interview on Tuesday�s edition of �Kokrokoo�. According to him, majority of the health facilities in the country owe more than two months; adding, supply of medicines to those facilities will only be on cash basis. A letter issued to the Ministry of Health and copied to the rest of the health facilities in the country read: �We wish to state that pursuant to an earlier notice issued through the media and agreement arrived between members at a regular meeting, effective, 1st August, 2014, all members of the Chamber shall not supply any medicines on credit to any facility or health institution that is in arrears beyond two months. This regrettable decision has been taken to forestall further loss of capital in the wake of rising operational costs, unstable forex fluctuations and the dire consequences these could have if nothing is done to reverse the situation.� Speaking to Nana Yaw Kesse on �Kokrokoo�, Mr Adjei laid the blame on the doorsteps of the Finance Ministry and indicated that had they released the funds, this situation would have been avoided. Responding to the issue on the same platform, Mr Anthony Amaka, spokesperson for the Health Insurance Service Providers Association said �we have requested for a meeting with them (Chamber of Pharmacy) and hopefully the issue will be resolved�. The Chamber of Pharmacy Ghana is the umbrella body of key pharmaceutical manufacturing, importing, distributing, wholesale and retailing companies in Ghana. The Chamber seeks to pursue the collective interests of both its members and the health and safety of the populace through research, advocacy and collaboration.