PSG to clamp down on illegal drug peddlers

Dr. Alex Dodoo, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSG), says its outfit is stepping up efforts to clamp down on the activities of illegal drug peddlers in the country.

According to him, the amount of counterfeit drugs in the country has seen a tremendous increase in recent times adding that the trend, if not curtailed, could adversely affect the nation.

Dr. Dodoo made these remarks at the launch of the 10th Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) Conference in Accra .

He said “the activity of illegal drug peddlers is gradually getting out of hand. And if nothing is done about it, I am afraid we are all going to be in trouble in future.” He stressed that plans are far advanced to flush out illegal drug peddlers.

He disclosed that the organization is currently working in collaboration with the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) to ensure what he described as ‘Operation free Ghanaians from fake drugs and false pharmacists.’

“We now find it difficult to differentiate between professional pharmacists and chemical sellers because; everybody now calls himself a pharmacist,” he said.

Dr. Dodoo continued that a professional pharmacist ought to be someone, who has gone through the required training in a recognized institution ‘and not go for some two weeks course and tell us you are a Pharmacist,’ he added.

He indicated that “the training of pharmacists makes them specialists in medicines but generalists in probably most, if not all, aspects of human endeavor. The average competent of a pharmacist is that the person should be a communicator or a good counselor.”

Laying bare activities earmarked for this year’s Commonwealth Pharmacists Association Conference scheduled for Accra from 4th to 8th August, 2009, Dr. Dodoo disclosed that a new office of the Association will be unveiled as well as the exhibition of locally manufactured drugs. This he hinted will be held seven clear days before the conference officially commences.

The Conference under the theme; ‘Managing threats and crises; the vital role of pharmacy in an unstable world’ is expected to bring together 2,500 pharmacists from around the globe, according to Dr. Dodoo.

According to him, the training and expertise of pharmacists is often underestimated or overlooked by governments and members of the public hence the choice of the current theme.

“What the theme is saying is simple; pharmacists have a lot to offer in times of crises, uncertainties and trouble. We are trained to deal with insecurity, doubt and anxieties and we know enough about the catastrophes and disasters, which affect mankind.”