E-Pharmacy platform increased healthcare delivery by 40% – Dr. Okoe Boye
By Prince O. DOGBEY, Accra
The Minister Designate of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, has commended the effectiveness of the National Electronic Pharmacy Platform, launched by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in enhancing healthcare delivery in Ghana.
According to him, the platform has made healthcare delivery more accessible to Ghanaians, with healthcare delivery increasing by 40 percent, directly benefiting over two million people in the country.
The National Electronic Platform is a nationwide initiative aimed at enforcing standards, improving patient access to pharmaceutical services, and enabling consumers to purchase medications without the need to visit a physical pharmacy.
It was launched as part of measures to drive the digitalization agenda, ensuring that healthcare delivery is accessible regardless of one’s location.
The Minister made this known at the third edition of the West Africa Pharma Healthcare 2024 Exhibition and Conference held at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The event aimed to showcase various medicines and innovations in the pharmaceutical industry, providing healthcare enterprises with the opportunity to network and establish lasting collaborations for pharmaceutical development.
It brought together pharmaceutical companies from India, Turkey, South Africa, Bangladesh, and many other countries.
Dr. Okoe Boye highlighted that the platform is experiencing significant success and progress, attributing it to the high rate of mobile penetration in Ghana and Africa as a whole.
He added that the platform is highly commendable due to its ability to overcome longstanding barriers regarding accessibility and proximity.
Additionally, Dr. Okoe Boye stated that there has been a 25% reduction in errors related to medicine prescriptions due to the regulations put in place to certify standard products in the country as advertised on the electronic platform.
However, he added that Ghana is a strategic hub for establishing industrial parks for pharmaceutical production, reiterating the president’s commitment to making Ghana the largest pharmaceutical production hub in Africa.
Delving into the development and integration of some major policies into the NEEP platform, the Minister explained that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will be integrated onto the platform and is 90 percent complete.
He concluded his speech by admonishing pharmaceutical companies to enroll on the NEEP platform to advance healthcare delivery.
Pharm Harrison Abutiate, Chairman of the National Executive Council of the Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy, commended the government and stakeholders for the promotion and development of the pharmaceutical industry.
He explained that the pharmaceutical industry in Ghana has grown rapidly, with the chamber having 343 registered pharmaceutical companies licensed to import, 1,550 wholesalers, 500 retailers, 19,000 over-the-counter medication sellers (OTCMS), and 500 small-scale pharmaceutical enterprises. He indicated that if the right investments are made in the industry, the country can bridge the gap in health disparities.
The Indian Ambassador to Ghana, Commissioner Manish Gupta, said India is ever-ready to offer any form of support in advancing healthcare delivery and is ready to share its expertise in the sector. According to him, India is advanced in the production of pharmaceutical products and medicines for enhancing health in the country.
Mr. Thomas James, the Chief Executive of WegVoraus, organizers of the Expo said exhibitors from India, Ghana, Turkey, Pakistan, USA and Italy are participating in the exhibition.
“The exhibition would serve as an avenue for pharmaceutical manufactures, importers and suppliers to partner each other to improve investment in the industry” he said.
The exhibition and conference are expected to end on Friday, May 10, 2024.
