Ghanaians may soon have to pay for consultation services at retail pharmacies across the country.
Stakeholders are discussing plans to develop a policy around charges for services such as counselling, dispensing, among others.
The Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy (GNCoP) revealed this consultation fee policy and is expected to take effect from April 30, 2022.
In a press statement issued on March 23, 2022, the GNCoP’s National Executives explained that the Chamber will soon “require pharmacists in retail pharmacies to provide proof of professional liability insurance for the services they render on behalf of member companies as well as proof of their tax obligations to the state as professionals.”
The statement also highlighted some important matters of national importance to its members.
These include the expensive and stressful processes that the GNCoP goes through in transacting business with public institutions.
“GNCop has observed with concern the proliferation of various tender documents and fees that have made going business with public institutions cumbersome and expensive,” the statement said.
However, they proposed that standard tender documents and charges are discussed for a uniform form and fees to be adopted.
The Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy(GNCoP), complying with the provision of sections 27 and 28 of the Companies Act 1963, registered with the Registrar-General’s Department.
Until recently, the pharmaceutical industry in the country was saddled with many splinter groupings, each pursuing its own narrow agenda without the requisite harmonization of ideas to serve the good of the industry as a whole. Learning from the international best practices led to the establishment of the Chamber.
The Chamber is noted for its collaboration with all industry stakeholders and its ability to protect and pursue the collective needs and interests of members in order to create a pharmaceutical industry that supports members and national development.
The Chamber has positioned itself to serve its members from all segments of the pharmaceutical industry, namely local manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, practitioners/consultants, other stakeholders from the academia and other training institutions.
The Chamber aspires to be a research hub that seeks to collect, analyse and interpret practical industry data to inform, impact and influence policy, law and regulation. The Chamber is also an advocacy voice that seeks to speak authoritatively and act proactively on all national issues that are likely to affect the pharmaceutical industry.
