Cape Coast, Aug 7, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday asked Pharmacists to play a watchdog role in the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and serve patients with conscience.

He said when pharmacists serve patients with conscience and dispense with quality drugs they could make decent profits in their operations.

President Kufuor made the call when addressing the closing session of the five-day 2004 Annual General Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSG) at Cape Coast.

The theme for the meeting was "Quality Pharmaceutical Care - A critical component of the NHIS".

President Kufuor said when Pharmacists made decent profits on their operations, they could stem the tide in the proliferation of fake drugs and profiteering in the sector.

President Kufuor said without quality service from the pharmacists all efforts to render an effective and efficient health care to the people would not be adequate.

He expressed the government appreciation to the declaration by the PSG of members' total commitment to the NHIS, adding "together we could fashion out means to push the NHIS forward".

Mr Frank Amoako Boateng, President of the PSG called for the separation of services by the various stakeholders under the NHIS. He said without an effective pharmaceutical care the scheme would not be successful because pharmacists play a crucial role in the success of the scheme.

Mr Boateng said the PSG had been proactive in the scheme and had submitted a drug list to the Ministry of Health.

Mr Boateng said with the financial support of DANIDA, the Society had trained 55 pharmacists to train other members under the NHIS.