Accra, April 30, GNA - With the introduction of the new health policy, emphasizing prevention and health promotion, pharmacists have been urged to play a critical role in patient management even outside the hospital.

Pharmacy practice has therefore been asked not to be solely restricted to the science and art of drug formulation and dispensing but management of the patients as well.

Speaking at the induction of 111 new pharmacists in Accra on Wednesday, Major Courage Qushigah (Rtd), Minister of Health, in a speech read for him said pharmacists must be involved in ensuring that the expected treatment outcomes of patients were achieved by turning dispensaries into information resource centres for patients. He noted that with the increasing number of chronic conditions to be managed, such information centres should educate the people on what they should eat, the need for them to exercise, drink water, rest and the need to adopt healthier lifestyles.

This year's induction had the theme: "Optimising Pharmaceutical Workforce for National Development."

Major Quashigah said with the use of information and communication technology, pharmacists should also serve as the link between health events and the use of drugs, which was becoming an important indicator for disease surveillance.

"Indeed, every patient we serve is a potential source of data and this makes drugs outlets valuable sources of information." The Health Minister called for a system that would enable such information to be systematically captured and fed into policy. Major Quashigah expressed concern about the situation where over 80 per cent of pharmacies were located in Greater Accra and Ashanti regions saying such practice should no longer be tenable since that posed a big challenge to accessing medicines in other areas.

He said the Ministry would ensure that there was an equitable and accessible distribution of health professionals and facilities in all parts of the country and urged the newly qualified pharmacists to accept postings to the districts.

"Your presence in the districts will give a positive impetus to the successful implementation of the District Pharmacy Programme being pursued by the Pharmacy Council to enhance access to quality pharmaceutical services."

Major Quashigah assured the Council of its support to ensure that every designated deprived community was covered in the implementation of the District Pharmacy Programme.