Check uncontrolled advertisement of drugs in media - FDB

Ho, Mar. 29, GNA - The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) at the weekend called on the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), the National Media Commission (NMC), the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and other stakeholders to take urgent steps to check the "uncontrolled advertisement of drugs and other medicinal products", in the media.

In a nine-point communiqué adopted at the end of their second National Executive Council Meeting at Ho on Sunday, the Association observed that such medicinal products had "serious and deleterious consequences on the health of the people." The communiqué signed by Professor Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, President and Dr K. Opoku-Adusei General Secretary, also urged stakeholders to redouble efforts and re-strategise towards the complete eradication of guinea worm infestation in the country. It called on the general public to adopt positive sexual practices to reduce the rate at which HIV/AIDS was spreading in the country.

The Association commended government on the progress so far made towards the operation of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and called for the provision of both the financial and material resources necessary for its successful operations. The communiqué urged government not to relent in efforts to fully implement the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) with a call on the general public and other stakeholders to give the scheme their full support. It also congratulated government on the proposed establishment of the National Identification Authority (NIA) and called for full support and co-operation from all stakeholders towards its full establishment.

The Association urged government to show greater commitment towards negotiations for the improvement of general conditions of service for health professionals and salary enhancement in particular. It urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to seriously consider extending the deadline for the current voters' registration exercise to ensure that no qualified voter was disenfranchised.