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Pharmacists call on gov’t to set up
independent
--- Body to investigate the Kinapharma-cocaine
saga
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh,
Ghanadot
Accra, Dec 23, Ghanadot - The Governing
Board and members of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Ghana (PSGH) have called on the
government as a matter of urgency to set up
an independent investigation body to probe
the whole Kinapharma-cocaine incident.
According to them, the body should also pay
particular attention to the impact of this
on the local pharmaceutical industry and to
make recommendations on how such incidents
could be averted in future.
They further called on the government to
ensure that the Kinapharma receives all the
support and reliefs needed to continue to be
the pharmaceutical giant they have strived
over the years to build.
In a statement issued in Accra yesterday and
signed by the Executive Secretary of the
PSGH, Dennis Sena Awitty, it urged the
government to ennsure that the profession of
pharmacy, the local pharmaceutical industry,
and Ghana’s wealth of experts in pharmacy
are treated with highest regard and dignity
as befits any other
intellectual/professional organization,
stressing that “This is crucial for the good
of public health in Ghana”.
The statement also appealed to the
government to ensure that there is a
provision of a fair and transparent
framework for regulating the pharmaceutical
sector in general in Ghana, paying
particular heed to the concerns and
anxieties of all the major players including
pharmacists, the local pharmaceutical
industry, importers, exporters, doctors,
nurses and the general public.
The pharmacists further called on the
government to set up an independent
investigation into the circumstances leading
to the issuance of the letter of
interdiction by the Minister of Health to Dr
Alex Dodoo, Board Chairman of FDB and who is
also the President of the PSGH.
Additionally, the pharmacists have expressed
worry and grave concern certain incidents
and occurrences in recent weeks in Ghana
affecting the pharmacy profession.
Whilst the issues are many including the
unprofessional communication regarding the
recall of essential pharmaceutical products
from the market, the PSGH will like to
restrict itself to only the two issues.
These are: the unfair interdiction of the
Chairman of the Food and Drugs Board, Dr.
Alex Dodoo who is the re-elected President
of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH),
through a letter from the Minister of
Health, Dr. Benjamin Kumbour and subsequent
media publications over allegations against
him without notice and without giving him a
hearing.
The manner in which Police and Media handled
the Kinapharma-Cocaine hoax, wrongly
impacted negatively on the image of
pharmacy, pharmacists and the local
pharmaceutical industry in Ghana
The PSGH there wishes to state that: All
attempts to meet the Minister for Health and
officials of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO)
in the issue relating to the interdiction of
the FDB Board chairman, who is also the PSGH
President have failed. In the particular
case of our sector Minister a formal request
to meet him to discuss the issue has been
pending since 30th November, 2009 and no
formal communication/response has been
received to date.
Subsequent media reports in one newspaper
indicating that the President of the PSGH
had “squandered millions of FDB money in the
wrong capacity” sought to damage his
reputation and that of the PSGH.
The conduct of the Police Service and
related agencies; the level of media
coverage and publicity gives the impression
of an attempt to impugn on the hard-won
professional and business niche that an
illustrious pharmacist like Pharm. Kofi
Nsiah-Poku has carved for himself and his
company, Kinapharma ,over the years in
Ghana, West Africa and globally. This action
poses a threat to any industry in Ghana and
sends very wrong signals to investors.The
Police, the SFO and all similar institutions
beyond protecting individual and social
liberties must be conscious of the need to
protect professional, corporate, social and
individual reputation and images.
The PSGH is conscious of the strategic
importance of pharmacy, pharmacists and the
pharmaceutical industry in both the nation’s
health and economic aspirations.
The PSGH believes that these acts and
omissions should not pass without any effort
to avoid their repetition and also to
provide appropriate relief for those
affected.
Ghanadot
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