Pharmacists from the Commonwealth to converge in Accra

The 10th Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) Conference and the 74th Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) Annual Conference has been launched in Accra.

The theme for the conference, which would be held at the National Theatre from 3rd - 9th August this year, is “Managing Threats and Crises: The Vital Role of Pharmacy in an Unstable World.”

Over 2,000 pharmacists across the Commonwealth will descend in Accra for the conference, which will be preceded by the 74th Annual General Meeting, and the election of officers of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana.

Also expected to grace the occasion includes the President of the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association, Mr. Ivan Kotze, and the President of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP).

Addressing the gathering, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Dr. Alex Dodoo, said ever since the Local Organizing Committee, with the approval of the CPA executive, settled on the theme in June 2008, the world seems to have witnessed one threat, crisis, disaster and catastrophe after another, and it is almost as if the choice of the theme was extremely prophetic, or that it had jinxed the whole world into a crisis from the turmoil on the financial markets, through credit crunch, to floods.

Mr. Dodoo noted that the training and expertise as a pharmacist, is often underestimated or overlooked by governments, hence the choice of the current theme explains that pharmacists have a lot to offer in times of crisis, uncertainties and trouble.

He said pharmacists were trained to deal with insecurity, doubts and anxieties, and having knowledge about the catastrophes and disasters which affect mankind, would be able to offer comfort and solace in the form of the products and services they supply.

“The medicine we discover, design and produce makes an otherwise unstable world more stable, and the remedies we dispense bring peace, happiness and tranquility to minds and bodies afflicted by stress, illness, and impairment, both physical and mental,” Mr. Dodoo continued.

He adds that there would be reports on the latest development in pharmacy practice, training and examination of regional threats and priorities, and indicated further that aside the full conference programme, there would be time to meet people in local hospitals or pharmacies, and also see the local pharmaceutical industry at first hand.

He thanked the Ministry of Health and the government, as well, for their sincere support which has been extremely useful in their planning, and also hinted that several eminent Ghanaian pharmacists from across the globe would be coming home to support the programme.