Ghana’s debt to pharmaceutical companies affecting efforts at finding coronavirus vaccine - Pharmacy Chamber

The Chief Executive of the Chamber of Pharmacy-Ghana, Anthony Ameka, is claiming Ghana’s indebtedness to their members is greatly obstructing efforts by Chinese pharmaceutical companies in finding vaccines for the novel coronavirus.

“All the companies that produce the vaccines for coronavirus have closed down in China because we are not able to pay them. It will worsen the satiation in China,” he alleged Tuesday on Onua FM.

Pharmaceutical companies in Ghana on February 10 announced they will cease medical supplies to health facilities under the National Health Insurance Scheme until they provide payment guarantees.

“Health facilities owing more than three (3) months shall no more enjoy any credit facilities from our members,” they said in a statement issued by the Chamber of Pharmacy-Ghana.

Speaking on the matter on Onua FM’s Yen Sempa on Tuesday, Mr Ameka claimed their suppliers in China are not ready to supply their Ghanaian counterparts due to their indebtedness.

Also, he claimed “the prices of some suppliers have gone up to 78%” something he said was affecting Ghanaian pharmaceuticals.

SSNIT and GRA

Mr. Ameka noted that despite being owed by government, SSNIT and the Ghana Revenue Authority have been chasing them for SSNIT contributions of their staff and taxes.