The Administrative Assistant and Digital Marketing Lead at Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy (GNCoP) expressed shock at how the New E.I. by the Health Ministry now seeks to restrict additional 142 products at a go and fears this will affect the health of innocent citizens of Ghana.

Addressing the media after the Joint Press Conference by Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesalers Association (PIWA) in Accra, Samuel Kwame Boadu explained that some years ago, the Ministry of Health placed restriction on 27 medicines. Subsequently in 2016, the importation of 49 Products were again restricted for local manufacture.

He lamented that such a huge increase will undoubtedly have serious ramifications on the country’s health sector affecting innocent citizens. Samuel Kwame Boadu is therefore calling on the office of the Minister of Health to immediately suspend the impending E.I. 2023 on the Restriction of Medicines from being imported to allow for further engagements especially on the scope and timelines envisaged under the instrument.

On his part, The Chairman of Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy, Pharm. Harrison Abutiate and the President of Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesalers Association (PIWA), Dr William Adum Addo bemoaned the neglect of the Health Ministry on their concern.

He maintained that if the situation persists, it would also shoot up prices of drugs in stores and pharmacies and increase risk of high unemployment rate in the pharma space.