Accra, July 2, GNA - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a multinational Pharmaceutical company, with support from Ernest Chemist, has launched the new Panadol with Optizorb and Panadol extra in Accra on Friday. Consequently, the drug, which is designed to achieve rapid disintegration and dissolution, and disperses five times faster than ordinary paracetamol, is now on the Ghanaian market. Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry, who launched the drug, said government was committed to supporting local pharmaceutical companies to provide good health care in the country. She appealed to local pharmaceutical entrepreneurs to package their medicines and other products in the country, to generate revenue for national development.

Ms Hannah Tetteh said that opportunity existed for local companies to improve on healthcare delivery in the country. Mr Dotun Somoye, Country Director of GSK, said the drug was packaged and distributed in Ghana by Ernest Chemist and othe r leading indigenous pharmaceutical companies.

He said Panadol with Optizorb and Panadol offers fast and effective relief for headache, cold and influenza, backache, toothache, rheumatic pain, fever among other pain-related illness. Mr Dotun Somoye advised prospective users of the new drug to seek medical attention if pain persists, and said the company was committed to improving the health status of the people.

Mr Theophilous Corquaye, Acting Director, Food and Drugs Board, assured the public that the Board would do its best to prevent fake and unregistered drugs from getting to the market. He commended the two companies for their efforts to improve the healthcare system in the country.