Kumasi, June 18, GNA - Thirty-five newly qualified Medicine Counter Assistants (MCAs) were on Saturday awarded with certificates to practice at a ceremony in Kumasi.

They were among the maiden 151 qualified MCAs who have been trained throughout the country, under the supervision of the Pharmacy Council of Ghana.

The MCA training programme is a policy initiative of the Pharmacy Council to build a trusted group of qualified auxiliary pharmacy personnel to provide competent, acceptable and ethical methods of handling medications.

It is also to formalize the career of MCAs and make them recognized members of the pharmaceutical care team in the country.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Joseph Nyoagbe, Acting Registrar of Pharmacy Council, said it was imperative on the part of the Council to ensure that all personnel involved in the provision of pharmaceutical care were trained regularly to meet current trends and challenges in the efficient and appropriate pharmaceutical service delivery.

He said the MCAs policy had established special goals, job description, course structure, modules and accreditation standards for the training institutions, which had been accredited by the Council to offer training programme.

Mr Nyoagbe said the MCAs after six months training, were supposed to assist in inventory management, basic health education, assist in dispensing, sorting of drugs under supervision and assist in pre-packaging of medication.

He asked the graduands to work hard to promote the good image of pharmaceutical care in the country.

Mr C.N Sambo, Ashanti Regional Officer of Pharmacy Council, urged the graduands to adopt right attitude to support their employers create value for their products.

He advised them to work hard to give employers the edge to employ more MCAs.

Miss Gesta Tsikata, Proprietor of G-Health Consult, accredited training institution in Kumasi, said the MCA programme would help equip pharmacies with competent personnel to provide optimal health care delivery to the people.

She said in addition, it would help improve the standard of pharmacy practice and uplift the image of pharmaceutical care in the country.