Pharmaceutical importers reject E.I. restricting importation of 142 medicines for local manufacture

The Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy (GNCoP) and the Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesalers Association of Ghana (PIWA) have called on the Health Minister to suspend a proposed E.I. restricting some 142 medicines from being imported.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, GNCoP and PIWA suggested further engagement with key stakeholders on the issue, failing which would trigger a massive shortage of medicines, a huge price rise, the collapse of the National Health Insurance Scheme, and other potential health risks.

“We are respectfully calling on the office of the Minister of Health to immediately suspend the impending E.I. 2023 on the restriction of medicines from importation to allow for further engagements, especially on the scope and timelines envisaged under the instrument,” the associations noted in their statement.

They, however, indicated that they are in support of any interventions to support the local manufacture of some medicines, although this intervention should be such that the country’s health delivery system would not be jeopardised.

“We wish, however, to indicate from the onset that we are fully aligned and in support of the government’s broad aspiration to deliberately deploy various interventions to boost the local manufacture of medicines in Ghana. Our concerns are, however, the huge potential risks, costs, and procedural improprieties associated with this draft E.I.”

GNCoP and PIWA revealed that there were restrictions on the importation of some medicines in the past, but these restrictions underwent a structured collaborative process involving the Health Ministry, Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), and Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG).

They also stressed the negative implications of the E.I. if it progresses on not only the medicinal supply chain but also on the quality of medicines and employment.

Accordingly, the importers urged the government to immediately suspend E.I. and pursue a process that is”systematic, realistic, transparent, and strategic” in order not to jeopardise the health care of Ghanaians.