No pharmacist permanently employed by gov’t since 2021 –Pharmaceutical Society

President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Pharm Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh, has disclosed that the last time pharmacists were employed by the Ghana Health Service was in 2020.

He expressed concern over the lack of permanent employment opportunities for pharmacists, attributing this issue to the government being the largest employer in the country.

Speaking at the 43rd Annual General Meeting of the Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners (SPMDP), Pharm Dr. Donkoh emphasized the need for the government to prioritize employing pharmacists to address the brain drain affecting the healthcare sector.

He highlighted the high number of pharmacy graduates in Ghana, with approximately 1,000 pharmacists graduating each year, yet not receiving permanent positions from the government.

To combat this challenge, Pharm Dr. Donkoh suggested that the government employ 400 to 500 pharmacists annually to ensure that every health facility has a pharmacist, thus improving pharmaceutical services in the country.

He also emphasized the importance of the private sector in providing job opportunities for pharmacists, urging regulators to enforce the presence of pharmacists in all pharmacies and encouraging over-the-counter medicine sellers to upgrade their facilities and employ pharmacists.

Furthermore, other healthcare professionals at the meeting, including the President of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association and the President of the Ghana Dental Association, expressed concerns over the brain drain in the healthcare sector and suggested mentorship as a strategy to retain young professionals in Ghana.