SEVENTY (70) newly trained pharmacy assistants have graduated after completing a six-month training course at the Chamalt MCA Training Institute in Tamale.
The pharmacy assistants, formerly known as Medicine-Counter Assistants (MCAs), received certificates from the Pharmacy Council and are qualified to work in pharmacies across the country.
Already some of the graduates have been working in pharmacies at the Tamale West Hospital, Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Hospital, Yendi Government Hospital and some private pharmacies.
The training and certification of the assistants is part of measures to sanitise and guarantee standard practice in the pharmaceutical service delivery sector.
MCAs assist other members in the pharmaceutical care team to perform various tasks, which include dispensing of drugs, sale of over-the-counter medicines, taking inventory, clerical duties and sorting out of medicines.
Addressing the graduates, the Head of Education and Training at the Pharmacy Council, Mr Emmanuel Opoku-Adjei, revealed that so far over 2,800 MCAs had been trained throughout the country.
He said the council had instituted a training policy that sets out special goals, course structure and modules, job description and the accreditation standards for the training of MCAs.
“The main goal of this policy is to build a trusted group of pharmacy support personnel to provide competent, acceptable and ethical methods of handling medications,” he explained.
Mr Opoku-Adjei revealed that 16 institutions in various parts of the country had been accredited to run the MCA course.
“Their accreditation is renewable every three years if they comply strictly with the agreed standards and protocols,” he noted.
Mr Opoku-Adjei entreated operators of pharmacies to secure the services of trained professionals and ensure that personnel who lack this training are enrolled to take the training.
“It is mandatory for all personnel who work in pharmacies and related facilities to have undergone some form of formal training, at least the minimum being MCA,” he stated.
The Director of Nursing Services in the Northern Region, Mr Prince Gunguni, noted that the training of MCAs was very crucial because the pharmaceutical sector was woefully under-staffed.
“We need more pharmacy personnel for our numerous Community Health Planning Services (CHPS) zones, as well as our clinics, health centres and hospitals,” he stated.
Mr Gunguni said the Regional Health Directorate would make proposals to the Ghana Health Service to consider recruiting the MCAs to serve in the rural health facilities.
He commended Chamalt Institute for spearheading the training of pharmacy assistants, noting that it would promote standards in the pharmacy industry.
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