The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has condemned the illegal importation and distribution of unapproved opioids, calling for urgent regulatory action to combat the crisis.
The condemnation follows recent investigative reports, including the BBC Africa Eye documentary, which exposed how dangerous opioids are being smuggled into Ghana and other West African nations.
In a press release issued on Monday, PSGH warned that illicit pharmaceutical imports, particularly drugs containing tapentadol and carisoprodol, pose severe public health risks.
As the country’s foremost professional body representing pharmacists and pharmaceutical stakeholders, PSGH urged authorities to intensify regulatory oversight to curb the growing menace.
The society expressed deep concern over how some pharmaceutical companies, including Aveo Pharmaceuticals, have been implicated in the illicit opioid trade.
Unregulated and unregistered opioid formulations such as Tramadol, Tafrodol, Timaking, and Super Royal-225, which are banned for medical use in many countries, have been linked to rising cases of drug addiction and severe health complications in Ghana.
PSGH highlighted the devastating impact of opioid abuse on public health and national security, citing increased substance dependency, mental health disorders, and socio-economic challenges.
Reports that Ghana has become a key transit hub for these illicit drugs, despite existing regulations, have heightened fears of a worsening crisis.
The pharmaceutical body also addressed allegations that some Ghanaian pharmaceutical importers are involved in the trade.
While some companies have denied any wrongdoing, insisting their imports comply with Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) regulations, PSGH emphasized the need for a thorough and independent investigation.
“We do not absolve any entity of wrongdoing, but we stress the need for regulatory agencies to ensure transparency and due process in determining culpability,” the statement read. PSGH called on the FDA, Pharmacy Council, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)-Customs Division, and the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service to conduct an extensive probe into the matter.
To tackle the opioid crisis, PSGH has recommended several immediate actions, including:
- Enhanced Border Control: Strengthening surveillance at entry points through collaboration between the GRA-Customs Division, Ghana Immigration Service, and FDA to prevent the importation of unapproved drugs.
- Stricter Pharmacovigilance: The FDA and Pharmacy Council should intensify monitoring of pharmaceutical imports and enforce stricter penalties for non-compliance.
- Interagency Collaboration: Law enforcement agencies, health regulators, and pharmaceutical bodies must work together to dismantle illicit pharmaceutical networks.
- Public Education and Awareness: Pharmacists, healthcare professionals, and civil society organizations should educate the public on the dangers of opioid abuse.
- International Cooperation: The Ghanaian government should collaborate with Indian regulatory bodies and global health organizations to prevent the exportation of unlicensed drugs into West Africa.
PSGH reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that only safe, effective, and approved medicines are available in Ghana.
The society urged all stakeholders, including pharmacists, regulators, and the public, to support the fight against illicit opioid trade.
“Stronger pharmaceutical governance and accountability are crucial to protecting the health and well-being of all Ghanaians,” PSGH President Pharm. Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh emphasized.
The society also warned that any local pharmaceutical company found guilty of breaching regulatory protocols should face appropriate sanctions to maintain the integrity of Ghana’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
