The Pharmacy Council has cautioned institutions engaged in the training of Pharmacy Technicians without the body’s approval to ensure they secure the necessary clearance before rolling out such programmes.
This warning comes in the wake of allegations against some polytechnics undertaking training of Pharmacy Technicians in the country without recourse to regulatory requirements.
A statement from the council signed by the Registrar reads:
According to Section 80, (a), (g) and (i) of the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies, Act 2013, (Act 857), the Pharmacy Council is mandated to:
1) Ensure that the education and training of pharmacists and any other pharmaceutical support staff are carried put at approved educational institutions for efficient pharmacy practice;
2) Provide guidelines for the education, training, registration, licensing and the practice of all pharmaceutical support staff
3) Ensure accreditation for pharmacy programs in collaboration with appropriate State agencies.
According to the council, a breach of this regulation prohibits graduates of such pharmacy programs to be eligible for registration under part IV of the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act 2013, cautioning such institutions perpetrating such acts of impunity to “seek accreditation of the programs from the Pharmacy Council”
The council noted that only two institutions in Ghana—Kumasi and Wa Polytechnics are currently accredited to run the HND Dispensing Technologist or Pharmacy Technicians Programs