psgh president ’s address at 2016 agm 2016...psgh president’s address at 2016 agm 2016 and work...

PSGH President

Regional Director of Health Services,

Guests, Our media friends, Ladies

We have gathered once again:

• In fulfillment of our corporate

matters critical to moving

• To reflect on our collective

means to improve on our

race”.

• To examine how we can

“Pharmacy practice: O

practitioners, government

OPENING

PSGH President’s Address at 2016 AGM

SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT

PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY

(PSGH), PHARM. THOMAS

APPIAGYEI TO THE

GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

PSGH AT EUSBETT

CONFERENCE CENTRE

BRONG AHAFO REGION

The Minister of Health,

Segbefia, Hon. Deputy

Minister of the Brong

Prof. Alex Dodoo

Speaker, Past Presidents,

PSGH, The Director of

Services of the Ministry

Chairman of the Pharmacy

President and Chairman

College of Pharmacists,

Governing Board of the

of the Pharmaceutical

Services, My Colleague Pharmacists of this Noble Profession,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

corporate and constitutional aspirations to deliberate

moving our Practice, our Society, and our Nation forward.

collective direction, review our performance, and

our core mandate as the “most trusted friends

can work towards improving patient safety outcomes.

Optimizing patient safety” is a clarion call

ment and all stakeholders to join forces, agree on

s Address at 2016 AGM 2016

PRESIDENT OF THE

SOCIETY OF GHANA

THOMAS BOATENG

2016 ANNUAL

(AGM) OF THE

INTERNATIONAL

CENTRE IN SUNYANI,

REGION

Health, Hon. Alex

Deputy Regional

Brong Ahafo Region,

our Thematic

Presidents, Fellows of the

of Pharmaceutical

Ministry of Health, The

Pharmacy Council, The

Chairman of the Ghana

Pharmacists, Members of the

the PSGH, Captains

Pharmaceutical Industry,

Profession, Invited

deliberate on issues and

forward.

and explore better

friends of the human

outcomes. Our theme,

call to the PSGH,

on clear objectives

PSGH President’s Address at 2016 AGM 2016

and work towards ensuring that we achieve quality, cost-effective, sustainable patient

safety outcomes.

We have also gathered to re-unite as a family, take stock of our profession and practice, share

notes and best practices, and leave Sunyani as better professionals equipped to positively

impact our nation. This is what Ghanaians expect.

TENURE

Colleagues, one year ago, you entrusted me and my team with the mandate to lead our noble

Society. I promised you leadership that will address the pressing challenges while building the

foundations for a better, brighter, future for ourselves as practitioners, our practice and our

profession.

Last year I said this, and I will like to quote my own words:

“Our problems require VISIONARY STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP to confront. I, Thomas Boateng

Appiagyei, I am the first to admit they require more than two years or even four years to tackle.

That is why I propose the NEW OUTLOOK as the best way to tackle these. We must CREATE a

PROCESS to address these problems and many others in the long term. This process must begin

with transparent, selfless, measurable leadership in the PSGH... This is what I stand for and

believe in.

I, in consultation with my Governing Board, SEC and all practice, interest, regional groupings

and the general membership shall begin the DEVELOPMENT of a 10year Strategic Plan for the

PSGH. The aim of this PLAN (THE NEW OUTLOOK) will be:

To CREATE a defined future for the PROFESSION, the PRACTICE and the PRACTITIONER in the

next decade. To obtain our collective inputs and ownership of the plan as WHERE WE WANT TO

BE”.

In other words, it was creating the framework for our collective future through strategic

visionary leadership.

I promised you this plan will be the talking point of AGM 2016.

Today, I stand here humbled, happy, hopeful and absolutely confident.

I am humbled by your amazing show of goodwill, patience and support for me and my team.

I am happy that within the last 11months, we have tangible results as a sign of a future we

dreamt of.

I am hopeful that the foundations to a more secure future have been laid by the NEW

OUTLOOK and I am absolutely confident that we shall succeed.


The new outlook for Pharmacy was grounded on three key pillars: a respected profession, a

revered practice and reputed professionals. To achieve these, we had to lay certain strong,

fundamental basis upon which to build the vision. These included, broadly:

1. Restructure, resource and empower the National Secretariat with an enabling

environment to achieve results;

2. Develop a 10-year Strategic Plan for the Society;

3. Explore alternative sources of income generation for the Society;

4. Pursue the land title, review the next phase and recommence the Pharmacy Centre

Project;

5. Revise the AGM and align it to our goals;

6. Strengthen Practice Groups and Pharmacy Practice;

7. Recognize young pharmacists as a critical group for our Society’s future.

These broad themes, translate into the numerous projects, programs and plans we promised to

deliver. We promised to be more action-oriented, and focused on our objectives.

While we will have more time to examine and interrogate our tenure in the next two days, I am

greatly pleased to report that:

1. We have begun revising operations at the National Secretariat. The process is ongoing and

those who have visited the Society’s office lately will attest to this.

2. We have the final 10-year Strategic Plan of the PSGH as a key talking point of this AGM. In

fact, Friday’sBusiness Session will see us engaging fully on this crucial document.

3. We have laid the foundations for exploring additional sources of income. Very soon our

Business Unit and other initiatives will kick in to demonstrate this.

4. We have, finally, obtained original land title that vests the entire land in the name of the

PSGH, paving the way for massive works to begin on the National Headquarters immediately

after this AGM. Copies of the title document and two different sketch designs from two

architectural firms will be displayed at this AGM. I invite you to visit the stand and offer your

inputs for this Project.

5. The revision of the AGM and its alignment to our goals has just begun. The registration,

publicity, restructuring and arrangements of this AGM is more an experience than a story to be

told.

The New Outlook for Pharmacy


6. The strengthening of the Practice Groups and pharmacy practice has begun.

It has been a tough period, combining the quest for these strategic issues with the myriad of

pressing challenges we faced as a profession.

7. For the first time in many years, Young Pharmacists will have their forum to deliberate on

key matters that affect them and their practice. The issues will be raised, addressed and

discussed by Young Pharmacists among themselves. The outcomes of these discussions will

be fed into our plans for the future.

DDDIIIRRREEECCCTTTOOORRRAAATTTEEESSS

In line with the PSGH Constitution and in a bid to ensure the effective deployment of each SEC

member to the achievement of our vision, I established 5 Special Committees and 4

Directorates. The Mandates of the Committees are in the Governing Board Report. On behalf of

the GB, I am glad to report that:

1. The Education, Research and Public Health Directorate of PSGH has been coordinating

and supporting public health educational programmes across all regions in Ghana,

working closely with our regional executives to educate the public on priority public

health problems such as:

• Meningitis,

• Emergency contraceptive use,

• Cholera, antibiotic resistance,

• Responsible use of Medicines by the public among others.

2. The Directorate worked closely with LAPAG and Ghana Pharmaceutical Students

Federation to educate students on the various campuses on the health implications of

the abuse of emergency contraceptives and related issues.

3. The Directorate has also collaborated with the Internal Relations Directorate of the

PSGH to strengthen the scientific content of this year’s AGM. It is a credit to the

Directorate that we have poster presentations as part of this year’s AGM.

4. The Directorate is also facilitating a public health educational campaign called “Ask the

Pharmacist Initiative”, where PSGH will work closely with Alsbridge to continuously


sensitize the public about the role of pharmacists in the health system and to promote

health and responsible use of medicines.

5. The Directorate has plans to roll out a nationwide mentorship programme and CPD

activities.

6. The Governmental and Non-Governmental Relations Directorate has also initiated

collaboration and capacity building for Pharmacists with the Country Representative of

the World Health Organisation (WHO).

7. The External Relations Directorate has appointedoverseas co-ordinators in Europe and

America with the specific responsibilities of facilitating the collaboration between

members abroad and the Society for our mutual benefit.

8. The Directorate has also instituted awards by PSGH for the best graduating pharmacy

students from the three pharmacy schools in the country.

9. The PSGH is for the first time sponsoring one pharmacy intern from each of the three

teaching hospitals in the country including Korle Bu, Komfo Anokye and Tamale Teaching

hospitals to attend this AGM as observers.

10. The Internal Relations Directorate has enriched our existing welfare system of the

President (or Administrative Secretary) talking directly to members on

members’birthdays with the aim of fostering a very close bond between the PSGH and

its members.

11. This directorate has also facilitated the bridging of the communication gap between the

PSGH, its Presidency and the membership through monthly bulletins on initiatives and

efforts of the President.


12. The directorate is also collaborating with the Educational, Research and Public Health

Directorate to plan for the 2016 World Pharmacists Day Celebration on the 25th

September 2016.

13. This directorate co-ordinated the planning for the development of the 10-year Strategic

Plan for the PSGH.

14. The Internal Relations Directorate also engineered the planning, organisation and

implementation of the 2016 AGM to align to my vision as President of the PSGH.

15. The Editorial Team has consistently published a bimonthly publication of The

Apothecary News. This has not only ensured that members of PSGH are constantly kept

abreast with the Society’s affairs and engagements but also kept up to date with trends

in the health sector.

16. The Editorial Team has regularly updated information on the website since taking over

the management of the website. The Team looks forward to leveraging the website as

an interactive educational platform for deploying CPD modules so all members of the

PSGH can, at their convenience, build their knowledge and sharpen their professional

skills.

17. I am also proud to announce that efforts have been pursued to ensure that all scientific

articles published in Ghana Pharmaceutical Journal (GPJ) undergo rigorous peer-review

processes. This year’s Edition of the Journal was indeed taken through this crucial

editorial process. A database of peer reviewers is still in development.

18. A Facebook handle of the GPJ is now available. Our publications (GPJ) and The

Apothecary News) standards were raised when we obtained an International Standard

Serial Number (ISSN) for these valuable documents which serve as the official

mouthpiece of the PSGH. Obviously, the standards of our publications have been raised.

PSGH President

Hon. Minister, the Single Spine

Structure challenges and Conditions

of Service for our colleague

government hospital remain a

blot on our collective welfare

profession. Motivations are

confidence is being eroded and

countless adjournments

confusion is grave danger

industrial harmony, patient care

pharmaceutical care in our hospitals.

Our national development cannot

attained by leaving any person

group of persons, more

pharmacists behind. Our colleagues

Ministers, Arbitral Bodies, the

difficult quest for equity, justice

that these issues must come to an

I appeal to you, Honorable Minister,

urgency to deal with this GHOSPA

The appropriate Interim Market

structure following clear determinations

Committee, the conclusion of the

any longer. The time to fix these

now!!!

The other pressing issue has

Community Pharmacy premises.

the PSGH fully condemns the hanging

yet we also demand that the Council

whether government run or private,

safety outcomes.

Thirdly, the increasing cases of administrative

colleagues in some public health

circumstances that have led to

Teaching Hospital, the strange

Pressing Issues

PSGH President’s Address at 2016 AGM

Salary

Conditions

colleagues in

huge

welfare as a

low,

and the

and

danger for

care and

hospitals.

cannot be

person or

more so

colleagues have endured, toiled and persevered under

judicial processes and Committees upon committees

justice and fairness. Honorable Minister, you would

an end.

Minister, to impress upon Government, as a matter

GHOSPA-Fair Wages and Salaries Commission issues

Market Premium, the obvious and logical call for revising

rminations by the National Labor Commission and

the Conditions of Service for Hospital Pharmacists

these problems is now. Honorable Minister, I believe

been the Pharmacy Council’s new policy on

premises. I will say this is a very thorny and delicate issue.

hanging of licenses menace and supports any initiative

Council must extend the same standards to all

private, whether big or small. This is critical for

administrative injustice and penal measures against

health institutions are regrettable. We mention

the two year interdiction of Mrs. Elizabeth Bruce

termination of the appointment of Eric Kwaku

s Address at 2016 AGM 2016

under several Health

committees in their

would agree with me

matter of extreme

once-and-for-all.

revising the grade

and the Cabinet Sub

Pharmacists cannot wait

believe the time is

on superintending

issue. On one hand

initiative to curb it,

all health facilities

for quality patient

against some of our

mention notably the

Bruce in Korle Bu

Kwaku Kyei and the


termination of the appointment of only the Pharmacist in the Korle Bu Senior Staff Association

(KOSSA) leadership, Charles Offei-Palm are most unfortunate and regrettable. While all these

matters remain in Court, we urge the Health Ministry to intervene immediately to resolve these

issues as the cost and impact of litigation on our colleagues is unacceptable, unfair and most

unfortunate.

The PSGH welcomes Government’s efforts at re-examining the NHIS for sustainability, equity,

accountability and efficiency. We have supported the process and made our inputs. As a

Society, we believe the Scheme represents a huge relief for the majority of Ghanaians and we

must all support government and the Authority to ensure its continuous survival and

sustainability.

We also commend Government for her support for the local pharmaceutical manufacturing

industry. We refer to the direct financial support for the Industry and the withdrawal of VAT on

some major pharmaceutical inputs and some finished products under LI 2218 of the VAT

amended Act. This single initiative is unprecedented in our history and we hope to be seeing

more for industry in the years ahead. The PSGH believes government’s deliberate and targeted

support for local manufacturing will not only strengthen the health system but also boost

national economic development. As it is often said, any nation that develops makes three

things in abundance: its own energy (fuel), its own food and its own medicines. We will

implore Government to give a prominent place for pharmaceuticals and health technologies in

the economic aspirations of Ghanaians.

Our theme for this AGM is also a bold manifestation of our commitment to work with

Government in its efforts at achieving patient safety outcomes. We promise to make the

outcomes of these deliberations available to the government through the Ministry for action

and incorporation into policy.

There is only one Ghana. Our homeland. We urge all competing parties to make every effort to

ensure a peaceful election in December. Candidates, their supporters and party agents must be

circumspect, careful and guard against any acts that may threaten or compromise the peace.

Ghana has earned the enviable place of a model for democracies in Sub Saharan Africa. This

recognition is critical for attracting trade, investments and development to Ghana. We owe it to

ourselves, our children and our communities to jealously guard this peace.

National Health Insurance Issues

Election 2016


The PSGH further calls on the Electoral Commission (EC) to lay down the rules clearly and

enforce it strictly to ensure that both winning and losing parties and candidates are left with no

doubts. We have a history of very close electoral results and these call for strong electoral

systems and rules to ensure clarity and consistency.

We finally call on all Ghanaians to put our nation ahead of any person or party. Ghana first.

Ghana is bigger than any of the parties or candidates. Let’s work together to build our nation.

Political, tribal and any form of polarization must be avoided and condemned in clear terms.

In conclusion, it is often said:

“To a generation much is given, but of other generations, much is expected”.

We the current generation of pharmacists owes it to ourselves, our profession and posterity to

create what will be the future of our noble profession in Ghana. Let us therefore eschew the

dangerous “infections” of disunity, complaints, excuses, and blame;

Let’s change our thoughts; Let’s believe in our collective strength; Let’s believe in what we can

do; Let’s light our lamps to brighten our little corners; Let’s create our common future today;

Let’s roll up our sleeves and get the job done; Let’s resolve to build; where it is broken, let’s re-

build, Let us make Sunyani the turning point…

To paraphrase the words of Nehemiah in the Bible (Nehemiah 2:18)

“…Fellows, Members, Colleagues and all Pharmacists, the gracious hand of the Almighty God is

upon us: Let us rise up and build. Let us strengthen our hands for this good work”.

Long Live Pharmacy! Long Live the PSGH!! Long Live Ghana!!!

*End of speech

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psgh president ’s address at 2016 agm 2016...psgh president’s address at 2016 agm 2016 and work...

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