Pharmaceutical Society launches AGM, commits to strengthening primary healthcare – Nsemkeka
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has launched its Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2025 and an accompanying logo, resolving to consolidate the role of pharmacists in the delivery of primary healthcare in Ghana.
The Society observed that pharmacists were the first point of contact for health care by most Ghanaians and it was imperative to reposition the profession to deliver quality, affordable and accessible services.
The decision by government to introduce a free primary healthcare policy made the resolve even more urgent, it added.
Rev. Dr Dennis Sena Awitty, the Executive Secretary of the PSGH, stressing the key role of community pharmacies, underscored the need to identify and strengthen all weaknesses in the system to meet both public and government demands.
“For instance, Non-Communicable Diseases are on the rise and early detection helps. How then can we position the nearest health care provider who may be the pharmacy close to you to help in screening?
“So, can the skills of that pharmacist be assessed and if need be, retooled to be that official first point of call for the healthcare system, for cases to be dealt with promptly before referrals are done if necessary,” he quizzed.
The AGM of the PSGH is scheduled for Monday, September 22 to Saturday, September 27 on the campus of the University of Cape Coast.
It will be held under the theme: “Strengthening pharmacy for primary healthcare,” and it is expected to deliberate on steps the pharmaceutical society ought to take to advance primary healthcare.
A dedicated website for the upcoming AGM, ‘psghoguaa25.com’ was also launched to enable society members access information, register for the meeting, watch pictures and stream the meeting live.
The meeting promises to be a blend of fun and education, starting on Monday, September 22 with a workshop for students and pharmacists across the country, followed by fun activities along the beach on Tuesday.
The AGM will officially open on Wednesday with “pharma dialogue” and election of new leaders to steer the affairs of the society.
PSGH will celebrate World Pharmacists Day on Thursday and continue Friday with a career fair.
Dr Awitty said there were over 5,000 community pharmacies across the country, putting them in the position to make government’s free primary healthcare programme successful.
“We have a goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030 and to work towards that, we think the pharmacists and the community pharmacies would be very important in achieving that goal,” he stressed.
Mr Kwabena Asante Offei, the Vice President, PSGH, noted that the pharmacy profession had become people centred, explaining that the launch was necessary to inform and engage the public for contributions that would ultimately shape their decisions.
He reiterated the role of pharmacies and pharmacists in advancing primary healthcare in Ghana, as it continued to be a priority across the world.
He said pharmacist trained today were more competent and available in communities than before, indicating that the gains must be consolidated.
Dr Samuel Kow Donkoh, the President, PSGH, said the AGM was the highest decision-making forum for the society and entreated all members to partake in the meeting.
He also encouraged members to avail themselves for the election to serve the Society.
Madam Cynthia Yeboah Mintah of the Pharmacy Council, expressed the support of the Council to the PSGH and entreated all members of the Society to be part of the meeting, come September 2025.