The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has called for a representation of the pharmacy profession on the technical committee formed by the government to review the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

According to James Ohemeng-Kyei, President of the PSGH, it is important for a pharmacy professional to be represented on the scheme’s review committee since medicines form about 52 percent of NHIS claims.

The review process of the NHIS, which would eventually lead to reforms in the scheme, commenced last week after the inauguration of a seven-member technical committee.

The committee, which has the responsibility of reviewing the NHIS based on its vision of becoming a sustainable, progressive and equitable social health insurance scheme in Africa, however, did not have any representation from the pharmacy profession.

Mr Ohemeng-Kyei, delivering an address at the 2015 Annual General Conference of the PSGH under the theme: ‘Universal Health Coverage: Achieving Access and Responsible Use of Medicines,’ said treatment with medicine is one of the most cost-effective medical interventions. However, 50 percent of medicines are sold, prescribed and dispensed inappropriately, he noted.

He said the current situation is worrying, especially when developing countries are spending between 20 to 40 percent of their national health budget on medicines – according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“Public education on responsible use of medicines is therefore key to achieving better therapeutic outcomes,” he observed.

Mr Ohemeng-Kyei also assured the government of pharmacists’ willingness to collaborate with the NHIS to find innovative ways of ensuring the sustainability of the NHIS.

Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Victor Bampoe, said one of the requirements for a country to achieve universal health coverage is a populace that is informed and encouraged to stay healthy.

He said it is part of the duties of the pharmacists to empower patients by engaging them in dialogue to communicate knowledge which enables them to be more compliant in taking their medicines.

“The pharmacist must help his or her client to become adequately informed through counselling on disease prevention and lifestyle modification,” he charged.

Dr Bampoe also assured the pharmaceutical society of government’s efforts to ensure that issues concerning their conditions of service are negotiated to the benefit of all.