Accra, Aug. 3, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Monday asked the World Health Organisation (WHO) to overcome setbacks that cause delays in granting of license to local drug manufacturing companies. He noted that there are efficacious drugs for certain types of diseases which are produced by local industries but the line of production are being hampered by WHO's delay in granting license to them.

Mr. Mahama made this known when he met a joint delegation of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) who called on him at the Osu Castle on Monday.

The delegation invited the Vice President to give the keynote address on Wednesday at a three-day day conference of the CPA. Mr. Mahama said the CPA could impress upon the WHO to streamline its rules on certification, manufacturing and research since there was a regime of standardization in Ghana.

He said it was unfortunate that criminal organisations smuggled expired and dangerous drugs into the country. Mr. Mahama expressed regret about the shortage of qualified pharmacists in the country, which he said had hampered the dispensing of drugs. Professor Kamal Midha, President of the FIP said the duty of a pharmacist found expression in the fact that "a drug does not become a medicine until it becomes useful to the patient." He said it was important for the pharmacists to be assisted to upgrade their knowledge and skills. 03 Aug. 09