Accra, April 7, GNA - The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) is marking this year's World Health Day on the theme: 93Antimicrobial resistance: No action today, no cure tomorrow."

A statement issued by Dr Alex Dodoo, President of the PSGH and Mr Dennis Sena Awitty, Executive Secretary of the society in Accra on Thursday to mark the day, said the theme was relevant: 93In an era of the emergence and increasing resistance to drugs used in the treatment of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV and AIDS 85Any delayed action will mean wiping the hope of future generations."

It said to halt and reverse the spread of anti-microbial, it is important for stakeholders to play their part in the rational and responsible use of drugs.

"As pharmacists, we have a huge responsibility towards the stewardship of medicines and would like to use the 2011 World Health Day to reiterate the following important points. "Ghana and the NHIS (National Health Insurance Scheme) stand to gain a lot if the incidence of drug resistance is halted and reversed. When anti-microbial drugs fail to treat patients, the second line drugs, used tend to be much more expensive and sometimes with less favourable safety profiles.

"Pharmacists are the acknowledged experts on medicines and any national decision on medicines without the key input of pharmacists stands to fail. The expertise of pharmacists is key to halting and reversing anti-microbial resistance not just in Ghana but all over the world.

"The separation of dispensing and prescribing services under the NHIS will go a long way to promoting rational use of medicines particularly reducing the consumption of anti-microbials, ensuring appropriate doses and dose duration thereby contributing towards the reduction of drug resistance and enhancing the prospects for sustainability of the NHIS," the statement said. The statement said PSGH stakeholders-patients, prescribers, dispensers, the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory agencies were part of the problem and also part of the solution of the anti-microbial resistance problem.

"Let us all work together to halt and revert this public health menace. Ghanaian pharmacists fully agree with the WHO that no action today may well mean no cure tomorrow. We cannot afford that. We should avoid that." 7 April 11