Accra, Feb. 4, GNA - The Ministry of Health on Friday declared its "full and unflinching" support for all its regulatory agencies in the implementation of appropriate regulatory measures to achieve the highest standard of quality in the health care delivery system. A statement in Accra signed by Mr Dan Osman, Head of Public Relations of the Ministry, noted that some of the regulatory agencies, especially the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), had in recent times been ridiculed by sections of the public in the implementation of their mandates.

"The FDB has shown great seriousness in its work and seems to be doi= ng its best in terms of its regulatory duties, all in the interest of safeguarding the health of the general public," the GMA said in a stateme= nt issued to the Ghana News Agency in Accra. "The Ministry, therefore wishes to remind the general public that the regulatory bodies, including the Food and Drugs Board, Nurses and Midwives Council, Medical and Dental Council and Pharmacy Council were all established under laws and therefore perform their various functions assigned to them under the laws on behalf of the Minister of Health," the statement said.

The Ministry reminded the general public that the FDB was mandated to implement the appropriate regulatory measures to achieve the highest standard of safety, efficacy and quality for food, drugs, cosmetics, household chemical substances and medical devices to ensure the protection of the consumer.

In the same vein the Nurses and Midwives Council, Medical and Dental Council as well as the Pharmacy Council were mandated by the respective legislations establishing them to enforce regulations that would ensure hig= h professional and ethical standards as well as weed out quacks in the health delivery system.

"The Ministry further urges all members of the public to appreciate t= he roles being played by these regulatory bodies in ensuring that high standards are set and maintained to protect the health of all and offer the= m the needed support and encouragement," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the National Executive Council of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has commended the FDB for the good work it has been undertaking to protect and safeguard the health of the public. It therefore appealed to all stakeholders in the food and drugs industry, as well as the general public, to support the endeavours of the FDB in protecting and safeguarding the health of the ordinary Ghanaian. The GMA said the seizure and subsequent destruction of fake medicines like coartem, an anti-malaria drug, some antibiotics and several fake uncertified herbal preparations were in the right direction.

It noted that unwholesome food products, including weevil infested rice, expired but relabelled Exeter Corned Beef and other food products had also been seized and destroyed by the FDB. The GMA expressed its support for efforts of the FDB and commended it for insisting on efficacy study reports and chronic toxicological reports o= n all medicines, both herbal and orthodox, before being certified for use in the country. The GMA said this would ensure that medicines given to patients were efficacious and safe.

"This will go a long way to reduce the incidence of drug related complications including liver diseases, kidney failures as well as some cancers and heart diseases." The statement urged the FDB to intensify its public education campaign= s to stem the tide of unregulated adverts of drugs, especially herbal medicines with their unsubstantiated claims in the print and electronic media. 4