Accra, Aug. 6, GNA- Dr Bamenla Goka of the Paedriatic Society of Ghana, on Thursday observed that access to adequate medical services is a right, captured under the Millennium Development Goals, to facilitate patient care.

Speaking at a panel discussion at the 74th Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana and the 10 Commonwealth Pharmacists Association annual conference, in Accra, she said although standard treatment guidelines had improved in the country, which cover childhood diseases, there were few challenges to be addressed.

These include lack of emergency drugs at the health facilities, multiple missed or late doses of drugs and drug levels which are not available for dosage adjustment. Dr Goka said drug shortages were common, while full course prescribed drugs were not given to clients of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

The conference is on the general theme: "Managing Threats and Crises: The Vital Role of Pharmacy in An Unstable World." Dr Douglas Keene, Director of Strengthening Pharmaceutical Systems, spoke on "How to Engage Pharmacists in Resistance Reduction Efforts." He said today's pharmacist must not just be a dispenser but a seven-star pharmacists who must be a caregiver, decision maker, leader, manager, life-long learner and teacher. He described Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) as a complex and multifactorial problem. Dr Keene suggested the need for curricular reform to include AMR and advocacy and coalition-building activities involving pharmacists to deal with the health problem. He stressed: "AMR is one of today's biggest public health threats."

Dr Suzanne Hill one of the panelists who spoke on "WHO Programme on Better Medicines for Children," identified some of the courses of mortality among children under five as injuries, AIDS, measles, malaria, diarrhoel diseases and pneumonia.