The issue of prescribing medicine for one’s self has become very common a norm in our society now a days.

Self prescription has more or less become another cultural norm that we cherish so much. Grandparents passed it on to our parents, they have also approved it for us, and the possibility of passing it on to generations yet unborn if not checked is very high.

A good number of parents who are neither nurses nor doctors know the kind of medicine to buy for their children each time they are suffering from any form of ailment of which most of us have fallen victims.

Most parents, when notice that their children are ill first go to the pharmacy shops and drug stores to get medicines for them and consider the hospital to be the last resort when the illness escalates.

They mostly do that either to save them the elongated queues or the hustle and bustle they would have to go through at the hospitals.

Moreover, just as parents teach their children the kind of medicine go for just in case they see any form of signs and symptoms, so have drug outlet owners taught their children the prices of various medicines; without taking them through any formal education.

They do not demand prescription forms from customers and they least question them the reason for purchasing that particular painkiller.

Since it has come to stay with us, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and all stakeholders should please make sure that pharmacy shops and drug outlets have qualified pharmacist to sell drugs and urge them to demand prescription forms from customers as well before selling drugs to them.

Edward Balami

ebalamiingh@hotmailcom

Ghana Institute of Journalism

Accra