The Ministry of Health will soon restrict the importation of some one hundred and forty-nine medicines, to be locally produced by pharmaceutical companies. This will take effect after the executive instrument is signed. However, the Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy and the Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesalers Association believe with the initiative by the Ministry of Health, the local manufacturers cannot meet the demand making room for shortages of essential medicines, price hikes and the infiltration of falsified and sub-standard medicines.
From an initial restriction list of 27 products previously imported for the local-pharmaceutical manufacturers, and which was subsequently updated to 49 products, the two bodies claim the new E.I. seeks to restrict, at a go, an additional 142 products in three schedules. At a news conference in Accra, they said, such an increase will have serious ramifications on the country’s health sector.
They said the list was not subjected to the regulatory review and standards by the FDA and this raises questions about the integrity of the list. They also doubted the availability of countless molecules including several off- patent products.
The association also claims the medications for treating hypertension, diabetes, malaria, and emergency situations are all being sought to be banned immediately without a proper check on the sufficiency in the country or ability to produce such essential medications which could lead to price hikes, pressure on the NHIS, and shortage. They warned that banning these selected products in a haste will undoubtedly compromise the quality of some of the medications.
Although the two associations are in support of the Government’s aspiration to deliberately deploy various interventions to boost local manufacturers, they are concerned about the huge potential risks, costs and procedural improprieties associated with the draft E.I. They are therefore asking the Ministry of Health to immediately suspend the impending E.I. 2023 on the Restriction of Medicines from Importation, to allow for further engagements. They also recommended, the establishment and operation of the functional system for data collection and analysis on the capacity of local manufacturers to meet national needs of medicines restricted under E.I 181. Also, they suggest the establishment of effective support infrastructure like contract manufacturing plants in at least three locations in Ghana to significantly reduce the existing barriers to local manufacturers.
