Story by, Paul Mensah Nsor
The Ghana College of Pharmacies convened its annual general meeting and scientific conference this week, spotlighting the critical role of postgraduate and specialized pharmacy training in strengthening primary health care across the country and the West African region.
Dr. Hafiz Adam-Taher, Director of Technical Coordination at the Ministry Ministry of Health, delivered opening remarks emphasizing that equipping pharmacists with advanced, specialized skills is essential to ensuring quality services at the primary care level and reducing the burden on secondary and tertiary facilities. He said the college’s conference theme — focused on specialization in pharmacy practice — aligns closely with government priorities to expand access to comprehensive primary healthcare across the country.
“The addition of specialized pharmacy training will enable community pharmacists to provide advanced services and ensure that primary care centres manage most conditions effectively, reserving higher-level care for serious cases,” Dr. Adam-Taher said, underscoring the government’s intent to broaden in‑country capacity for specialist training.
Key initiatives and priorities
- Expanded training duration: The Ministry noted recent decisions to extend postgraduate specialist pharmacy training from three to five years, a change intended to deepen clinical and pharmaceutical management competencies among trainees.
- Facility-based training: To reduce geographic and financial barriers for trainees, the Ministry and college are promoting facility-based training programs so pharmacists can access specialization opportunities without relocating.
- Sustainable funding and infrastructure: Ongoing discussions between the Ministry and college leadership aim to identify sustainable funding models and develop fit-for-purpose training facilities to support the growing specialist programs.
- Nationwide access: Officials emphasized plans to recruit and train pharmacists from across Ghana so specialized pharmaceutical services become available at community level.
Dr. Adam-Taher applauded the Ghana College of Pharmacists for its contributions to public health, including preparing specialist pharmacists, delivering continuing professional development, informing policy, and supporting public-health campaigns. He encouraged the college to continue scaling training and short-course offerings to equip pharmacists with the advanced skills needed to meet national health targets.
The conference included an induction of new members who have completed short courses. The Ministry asked attendees to translate their acquired competencies into practical improvements within Ghana’s health system. Delegates are expected to receive a committee report at the close of the conference outlining stakeholder expectations and actionable recommendations.
Ministry and college leaders said they will continue collaborating to finalize funding arrangements, improve training infrastructure, and expand facility-based programs. These steps aim to ensure that pharmacists nationwide can deliver specialized services that strengthen primary healthcare and contribute to better health outcomes for Ghanaians.
