Association calls for inclusion of psychotropic medicines on drug list

The National Association of Mental Health Practitioners has appealed to the Mental Health Board (MHB) to include psychotropic medicines in the Drug List of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to ensure constant supply in the country.

It said this would make mental health practitioners work effectively and efficiently.

The appeal is contained in an eight-point communiqué issued at the end of the four-day Second Annual General Meeting of Community Psychiatric Officers (CPOs) and Community Mental Health Officers (CMHOs) at Kintampo in the Brong-Ahafo Region.

It was attended by 120 participants including district directors and health managers of Ghana Health Service (GHS), graduates and students of the College nation-wide.

The communiqué was jointly signed by Mr Aaron Baah, President and Miss Jessica Amoah, General Secretary.

It expressed concern about the low recognition of mental health practitioners by some district directors and other health managers who seem not to be aware of the introduction of CPO and CMHO as additional programmes at the Kintampo College of Health and Well-Being to produce middle level manpower for the health sector.

The association expressed appreciation to efforts by stakeholders and the College in ensuring sanity prevailed in its professional structure.