Creating a better Ghana is not just a task for political leaders, we need to use the opportunity of interaction of the nature to put aside our differences in opinion and work together to identify the best option for the development of the pharmaceutical industry in the country.
The Trade and Industry Minister, Hon. Hannah Tetteh made the remarks at a round-table meeting involving manufacturers of pharmaceutical products in the country in Accra. The Minister urged the manufacturers to develop a strategy to ensure improved access to essential and quality generic drugs for malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in West Africa. A representative of the Minister of Health, Mr. Ben Botchwey in his address explained that high taxes and interest rate affects prices of drugs which become a burden on the patients. He also spoke against influx of counterfeiting drugs on our markets and urged the food and drugs board and Pharmacy Council to step up their activities and descend heavily on perpetrators to save lives.
The President of Ghana Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, Dr. Michael Agyekum Addo said at the moment, there are 38 registered manufacturing companies which has created over 5000 jobs but the challenges confronting the industry is enormous. Among the challenges are high interest rate which is pegged between 30-33%, high cost of electricity and water bills. A blue print would soon be issued for manufacturers of pharmaceutical products to be upheld. It is expected that a pool centre would be created to supply drugs to the 250 million people in the sub-region.
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