Bolgatanga, Jan. 6, GNA - The second edition of the Ghana National Drug Policy (GNDP) was on Thursday launched in Bolgatanga with a call on health professionals to ensure its efficient implementation. The Policy is a document that sets the principles to be followed and the goals to aim at in the pharmaceutical service delivery. It aims at improving and sustaining the health of the people of Ghana by ensuring the rational use and access to safe, effective, good quality and affordable pharmaceutical products.

Mr. Felix Yellu, Chief Pharmacist of the Ghana Health Services (GHS), explained that without a national drug policy, development in the pharmaceutical sector would be haphazard and uncoordinated. He said the revised policy puts emphasis on drug selection, procurement, storage, and distribution, as well as drug financing, quality assurance, rational use, human resource development and research.

Mr. Yellu said projects aimed at improving access to medicines and the quality of services provided by chemical sellers throughout the country would soon be started.

Dr. Joseph Amankwa, Upper East Regional Health Director of Health Services, called on health personnel in the region to study the document well so as to ensure effective implementation.

He said the policy was one of the comprehensive National Drug Policy documents sanctioned by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and should not be neglected but made good use of.

Mr. David Bakari, Regional Coordinating Director, who launched the document, commended the GHS for coming out with such a policy and said it would help to improve the health status of all Ghanaians. 06 Jan. 05