Aflao, May 19, GNA - Dr Andrews Ayim, District Director of Health for Ketu South and Ketu North districts, has advised pharmacists and pharmaceutical service providers to improve customer service to be able to withstand competition from traditional health practitioners. Dr Ayim said this at an awards ceremony and 10 years anniversary of the Elikplim Pharmacy Limited at Aflao. He called for the adoption of innovative ways by those in the pharmaceutical business so that they could place high value on their discerning customers.

Dr Ayim commended Elikplim Company Limited for becoming the leading pharmaceutical company in the area from a humble start. Mr Samuel Hodogbey, Ho Municipal Pharmacist, said over 70 percent of pharmacists and pharmacy service providers were concentrated in the urban areas to the disadvantage of rural dwellers. He said only qualified pharmacists and well equipped shops were needed to serve the public because drugs become potential poisons if abused.

Mr Hoddogbe said under a new District Pharmacy Concept, district assemblies were being encouraged to sponsor people to train as pharmacists so that they could come back to serve those districts and this is in addition to encouraging people to establish more license chemical shops in the rural areas. He commended Elikplim Company Limited and said it qualifies to serve as a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) service provider. Togbe Debresu VIII, the Managing Director of the company, said the company, which started in 1981 as a chemical shop, now has branches in Accra and Dambai in the northern part of the Volta Region and hopes to open more shops in the country. He said the company awarded 18 employees from the three branches with items including television sets and fridges.