Ghana’s pharmacy sector targets 70% local production by 2035

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) aims to increase local pharmaceutical production from the current 30% to 70% by 2035, as part of its commitment to medicine self-reliance. Dr Paul Owusu Donkor, President of the PSGH, highlighted the importance of enhancing industry capacity, investing in manufacturing infrastructure, and implementing effective regulation to ensure the safety and quality of medicines.

The Society's 90th anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the growth of pharmacy in Ghana and establish a path towards its centenary. Dr Donkor emphasized the need for practitioners to be competent and medicines to meet quality standards, with the proposed regulatory framework expected to serve as a blueprint for strengthening pharmaceutical practice and medicine standards in Ghana and the sub-region.

The goal also includes ensuring that Ghanaian-manufactured medicines meet international standards and can compete beyond the country's borders. To achieve greater local pharmaceutical production, the PSGH identified three key areas: improving pharmacist and professional capacity, investing in manufacturing infrastructure, and strengthening regulatory systems.

Ghanaian pharmacists have played a significant role in developing pharmaceutical regulation, manufacturing, and professional practice across Africa, contributing to the development of continental pharmaceutical regulation. The PSGH's 90th anniversary celebrations aim to examine the growth of pharmacy in Ghana and outline priorities for the next decade towards its centenary.