Approve posting of 599 Pharmacists or risk healthcare crisis – GHOSPA to govt

The Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) has made an urgent appeal to the Ministry of Finance to grant immediate financial clearance for the posting of 599 pharmacist house officers, warning that failure to act could trigger a nationwide pharmaceutical care crisis.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, GHOSPA—a practice group under the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH)—noted that 333 pharmacist house officers are set to complete their service by the end of the month. However, due to delays in financial authorization, there are no replacements ready to take over.

“The simultaneous exit of 333 house officers—without immediate replacement—will overwhelm already understaffed pharmacists, leading to medication errors, delayed treatments, and compromised patient safety,” the statement read.

The association emphasized the critical role house officers play in Ghana’s hospitals, supporting clinical pharmacy services, medication management, antimicrobial stewardship, and chronic disease care.

GHOSPA also highlighted that no permanent recruitment of pharmacists into the Ghana Health Service or related agencies has occurred in the past five years, worsening the strain on an already overstretched public health system.

The group is calling on the government to urgently approve the deployment of the 599 pharmacist house officers, facilitate a seamless transition between outgoing and incoming personnel, and work with the Ministry of Health, the Pharmacy Council, and GHOSPA to avoid future delays in postings.

“We cannot afford bureaucratic delays when lives are at stake,” said Dr. Emmanuel Owusu Owiafe, GHOSPA National Chairman.

“Pharmacists are not just dispensers of medicines—they are essential healthcare providers whose absence will cripple hospital operations.”