Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has promised the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) that Ghana will become a sub-regional pharmaceutical hub.
This according to Dr. Bawumia is aimed at reducing the importation rate of drugs into the country.
Dr. Bawumia made this declaration when he engaged some key players of the Pharmaceutical Society in Accra on Thursday, April 4, 2024, and shared with them his vision for the industry if elected President of the republic.
The vice president who was accompanied by Minister-designate for health, Dr. Okoe Boye, the NPP national chairman, Stephen Ntim, campaign manager for the NPP Fredrick Opare Ansah among others noted that just as he wants to set up a minerals development bank for miners aimed at supporting miners to acquire equipment, there has to be a source of funding for the pharmaceutical society.
“The good thing about the pharmaceutical industry is that the demand for the product is there. 70% of our needs are imported so the demand is there hence funding this is not something you will fund and lose. So we will make Ghana a pharmaceutical hub”, he stressed.
As part of his vision for the industry, he also noted the new flat tax rate system which he will introduce when he is elected president will allow individuals and organizations to know and calculate for themselves the amount they owe.
Additionally, he mentioned that to achieve all these, his administration will make sure Information Technology (IT) is incorporated to create a network system for society.
Speaking on the sidelines of the engagement, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), Pharm. Samuel Kow Donkoh commended Dr. Bawumia for his stern interest and vision in the industry adding that, with pharmaceuticals being the backbone of health, there is a need for all political parties to consider the industry in their manifestos.
“There are issues confronting the industry and we think all the major political parties need to engage and have a plan for us to improve healthcare delivery”, he stressed.
