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Pharmaceutical sector responds to Cedi stability, announces price cuts to support public health

The Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy (GNCoP) and the Pharmaceutical Importers & Wholesalers Association (PIWA) have jointly commended the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Finance, and the Bank of Ghana for recent policy measures that have led to a significant and sustained appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi, particularly against the US dollar.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the two major pharmaceutical bodies described the cedi’s performance as a “strong indicator of improving macroeconomic stability,” noting that it is already delivering concrete benefits to Ghana’s heavily import-reliant pharmaceutical sector.

The sector, which imports a substantial volume of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), finished medical products, consumables, and equipment, has seen operational costs ease due to the stronger local currency.

Among the key impacts cited are:

• Reduced Import Costs: The stronger cedi has lowered foreign exchange costs, translating to reduced prices of essential medicines and health products.
• Better Business Planning: Greater currency stability has improved predictability in pricing and procurement, especially for small and medium enterprises in the sector.
• Improved Access to Medicines: With financial pressure easing, pharmacies and hospitals are better placed to maintain stock levels of essential medicines, enhancing access and improving health outcomes.

Despite these gains, the statement acknowledged that many pharmaceutical businesses are still grappling with the effects of past currency depreciation, including high procurement costs for older stock.

Nonetheless, in a show of support for the government’s inflation control measures and in the interest of public health, the GNCoP and PIWA have announced a price reduction of 5% to 15% across the board for pharmaceutical products.

“This decision is a demonstration of our sector’s commitment to national development and public health,” said Pharm. Audrey Serwaa Bonsu, Chief Executive Officer of GNCoP.

“We are ready to contribute meaningfully to reducing inflation, alleviating pressure on consumers, and improving access to medicines.”

The pharmaceutical bodies also urged the government to sustain its prudent economic management and increase support for private sector players, particularly in healthcare.

They reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure medicine security, affordability, and resilience in Ghana’s public health system.

The price cut is expected to provide much-needed relief to both consumers and healthcare providers, especially amid ongoing efforts to curb inflation and stabilize the economy.

Ghana urged to prioritise maternal mental health amid rising postpartum depression cases

Mental health professionals are calling on the government and health stakeholders to urgently integrate maternal mental health into essential child health services, citing the growing threat of postpartum depression (PPD) in Ghana.

Speaking during a stakeholder engagement and first quarter Risk Communication Sub-Committee meeting on essential child health services in Ho, the Regional Mental Health Officer for the Volta Region, Salome Addy, highlighted alarming figures and gaps in care.

“Postpartum depression is affecting more Ghanaian women than we realize. It’s time we treated maternal mental health as a public health priority,” she said.

Globally, one in seven women suffers from PPD. In Ghana, studies show a prevalence rate of 3.1 per cent in secondary health facilities, rising sharply to 41 per cent in tertiary hospitals like Korle Bu.

The condition, often triggered by hormonal changes, stress, and lack of support, is linked to maternal suicide and long-term developmental problems in children.

Addy emphasised that despite the risks, Ghana lacks a clear national policy on maternal mental health. A recent WHO-FCDO analysis found limited training for healthcare providers, inadequate screening, and poor access to psychological services in maternal care settings.

“There is no health without mental health,” she stressed, calling for urgent policy reforms, regular screening for pregnant women, public education, and investment in mental health services at all levels of care.

The engagement was organised by the Volta Regional Health Directorate to strengthen risk communication and improve child and maternal health outcomes in the region.

Volta Region records decline in child immunisation coverage – Health officials

Health authorities in the Volta Region have raised concerns over the decline in child immunisation coverage in the first quarter of 2025, which could serve as a fertile ground for the outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases.

At a stakeholders’ engagement/first quarter Risk Communication sub-Committee meeting organised by the Volta Regional Health Directorate in Ho, the Regional EPI (Expanded Programme on Immunization) Coordinator, Emmanuel Bonsu, revealed that overall vaccination coverage for key antigens such as Penta 3 and MR2 has declined in most districts compared to the same period last year.

For instance, Penta 3 coverage in the region dropped from 78.4 per cent in early 2024 to 70.8 per cent in 2025. Similarly, MR2 coverage reduced from 70.2 per cent to 69.3 per cent. Districts such as Ho, Anloga, and Ketu South saw particularly sharp decreases, raising red flags among health officials.

Mr. Bonsu attributed the downward trend to several factors, including inadequate staffing due to high attrition, limited funding for outreach services in remote communities, and community engagement.

“This is a wake-up call,” he said. “We need urgent action to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases from resurfacing in our communities.”

The presentation also spotlighted the African Vaccination Week (AVW) and Child Health Promotion Week (CHPW), celebrated annually in April and May respectively.

These initiatives, supported by WHO and Ghana Health Service, aim to intensify immunisation efforts, promote nutrition, growth monitoring, and birth registration among children.

Under the theme “Every Child Deserves a Healthy Future; Invest in Your Child. Attend ‘Weighing’ Regularly,” the CHPW will deliver services such as deworming, Vitamin A supplementation, insecticide-treated net promotion, and school-based health screenings.

To address the immunisation gaps, Mr. Bonsu proposed strengthening routine immunisation systems, increasing support for hard-to-reach areas, engaging civil society organizations, and conducting mop-up campaigns for children who missed vaccinations.

Health stakeholders pledged to boost advocacy, mobilization, and resource allocation to ensure no child is left behind in the region’s immunization drive.

Association of Health Service Administrators trains members on medical negligence

The Ashanti Regional Caucus of the Association of Health Service Administrators, Ghana (AHSAG), has held a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshop to educate members on preventing the rising incidence of medical negligence, particularly amid the growing prevalence of medicolegal issues in healthcare facilities.

Medical negligence remains a persistent challenge in Ghana, with numerous reports of patients suffering harm due to inadequate care or errors by healthcare professionals and institutions.

Participants included Health Service Administrators from various health facilities across the region, including those under the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), teaching hospitals, and private health institutions. They were sensitised on best practices aimed at avoiding institutional liability and promoting effective patient care.

The workshop was hosted by the leadership of the Presbyterian Hospital in Agogo, led by Rev. Ezekiel Amadu Daribi, General Manager of the Asante Akyem Area Health Service of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, who also serves as the National President of AHSAG.

Rev. Daribi admonished the members to exhibit Godly leadership, hard work, and commitment in their day-to-day endeavours.

The facilitator, Lawyer Francis Kwaku Acheampong, urged the group to try their best as much as possible to prevent their hospitals from medical suits.

“Medical negligence: surgical errors, misdiagnosis are on the rise. Managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of the hospitals, and there must be compliance with the GHS and Teaching Hospitals Act 525, Section 30,” he said.

The Municipal Director of Health, Ghana Health Service, Mr. Roland Welaga Miah called for effective partnership and collaboration between Municipal/District Directors and Health Service Administrators for quality service delivery.

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Association, Kuupil Benjamin, Administrator for Effiduase Government Hospital, was excited for the knowledge imparted to the members and cautioned the members to adhere to the tips and advice provided.

Our condition of service is not renegotiable – GRNMA Secretary

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has drawn a firm line in the sand over its conditions of service, insisting that it will not return to the negotiation table.

According to the association, the terms were already thoroughly negotiated, mutually agreed upon, and officially signed — yet, to date, they remain unimplemented.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse show, General Secretary of the GRNMA, David Tenkorang, described the situation as one of deliberate inaction by the Ministry of Health, stressing that the association is not demanding anything new but simply calling for the enforcement of what has already been settled.

“The reason is very simple,” he said. “We negotiated our conditions of service. It was signed, sealed, and delivered — but it is not seeing implementation. All that we are asking the Ministry of Health is to approve the signed condition of service for implementation.”

During the interview, the host, Elton Brobbey, referenced a Tweet from the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Ministry of Health, which stated that the Ministry is operating an “open-door policy”, suggesting that stakeholders like the GRNMA should engage in dialogue rather than take entrenched positions.

But Mr Tenkorang firmly rejected this proposition.

“Discussion on what? We have negotiated, and our conditions of service are not open for renegotiations,” he said. “Perhaps that is what they are taking advantage of. Our case is very simple — we’re saying it has already been negotiated. All the government needs to do is approve it for the Controller and Accountant General to implement. There is no need to go and sit down again. To do what with it?”

He noted that although successive governments may come and go, the Ministry of Health, as the employer, has remained constant and therefore has no excuse for delaying implementation of the agreement.

“I am an opinion leader, and I often do not like to subscribe to the notion of ‘government this’ or ‘government that’. We deal with the employer, and the employer is the same. The government may change, but the Ministry of Health hasn’t changed. Just because a new government is in place doesn’t mean previously agreed terms should be curtailed.”

Mr Tenkorang emphasised that the Association’s demands are not excessive or unrealistic.

“We have had enough patience with this administration. They must turn their attention to our demands. These are not elastic demands — they are inelastic. They can be met easily. I don’t see why this should be dragged out.”

He recalled the pivotal role played by nurses and midwives during the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed disappointment that such dedication has not been rewarded.

“We are ready to work and protect our people. Even during COVID, we stood firm and provided essential services. That shows you how dedicated we are — we break our backs to bring smiles to the faces of Ghanaians.”

He also highlighted the growing exodus of nurses and midwives from Ghana, warning that those who remain are doing so at great personal sacrifice.

“There is no ban on us travelling — we can also go. But many of us have decided to stay and build Ghana. If people want us to continue putting our shoulders to the wheel to propel this country’s development, then the government must do the needful,” he concluded.

Mpox outbreak: 26 new cases confirmed, total cases now 45

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed 26 new cases of Mpox, bringing the total number of infections across the country to 45.

The new cases were reported as of May 31, 2025, and were announced by the Ministry of Health in an update shared on its Facebook page on Tuesday, June 3.

Although the number of confirmed cases has increased sharply, no deaths have been recorded. Two people are currently receiving treatment.

The rise in case numbers has been attributed to more active surveillance and improved contact tracing, which are helping to detect and isolate infections more quickly within communities.

Health authorities have urged the public to continue observing basic safety practices.

These include avoiding close contact with anyone showing symptoms, maintaining good hygiene, and visiting the nearest health facility if any symptoms appear.

The GHS said regular public updates will be provided every Tuesday on its official social media pages.

Officials have called for public cooperation to help contain the outbreak.

Exercise improves colon cancer survival, major study shows

An exercise programme for colon cancer patients can cut the risk of dying by a third, a major international trial shows.

The researchers said it was “not a large amount” of exercise, and any type of workout, from swimming to salsa classes, counted.

The results could change the way colon cancer is treated around the world.

Scientists are already investigating whether similar exercise regimes could improve survival for people with other diseases, such as breast cancer.

“It’s a bit of a mind-shift, thinking of treatment as something you do, not just something you take,” says researcher Prof Vicky Coyle from Queen’s University Belfast.

In the trial, the three-year exercise programme started soon after chemotherapy.

The aim was to get people doing at least double the amount of exercise set out in the guidelines for the general population.

That could be three-to-four sessions of brisk walking a week, lasting 45-60 minutes, Prof Coyle says.

People got weekly face-to-face coaching sessions for the first six months, which then dropped to once a month.

The trial, involving 889 patients, put half on the exercise programme. The other half were given leaflets promoting a healthy lifestyle.

The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed after five years:

• 80% of people exercising remained cancer-free
• compared with 74% in the other group
• meaning a 28% reduction in the risk of the cancer coming back, or a new one forming

Meanwhile, eight years after the initial cancer treatment:

• 10% of people on the exercise programme died
• compared with 17% in the group given only health advice
• marking a 37% lower risk of death

Exactly why exercise has this beneficial effect is unknown, but ideas include the impact on growth hormones, inflammation levels in the body and how the immune system functions – which patrols the body for cancer.

Dr Joe Henson, from the University of Leicester, said the results were “exciting”.

He added: “I saw first-hand that this reduced fatigue, lifted people’s mood and boosted their physical strength.

“We know that physical activity regulates several key biological processes that could explain these results, and further research will help us uncover why exercise is having such a positive impact.”

Colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, with around 31,800 people diagnosed each year.

Caroline Geraghty, from Cancer Research UK, said: “This trial has the potential to transform clinical practice, but only if health services have the necessary funding and staff to make it a reality for patients.”

Dr Charity Binka rallies journalists to highlight the silent epidemic of lifestyle-induced deaths

The CEO of Women, Media and Change (WOMEC) and the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN), Dr Mrs Charity Binka, has called on journalists to spotlight a growing but underreported health crisis in Ghana—an epidemic not driven by war or natural disaster, but by everyday lifestyle choices and economic stress.

Addressing journalists from the Volta and Oti Regions at a two-day capacity-building workshop under the Nkabom Collaboration initiative, Dr Binka described the increasing rate of preventable deaths among Ghana’s youth and working class as both alarming and avoidable.

“This is not a shock anymore—yes, it is a painful exit, but people are dying slowly, and attention fades too soon,” she said. “If you listen closely, it’s our lifestyle—the things we eat, what we drink, when and how we consume them. People smoke, they drink excessively, and most of all, they are frustrated. They don’t have jobs. And depression is killing them quietly.”

Dr Binka expressed concern over the growing number of young people dying prematurely, citing poor nutrition, inadequate rest, and stressful work conditions as key contributors. She explained that many Ghanaians now survive on multiple low-paying gigs, often earning just GH¢10 or GH¢20 from each, and are left with only two hours of sleep daily—conditions that severely disrupt bodily functions, including blood sugar regulation.

She urged journalists to go beyond surface-level event coverage and uncover the deeper human stories behind Ghana’s health statistics.
“We must tell the story. We must let people know what is happening. He [a facilitator] talked about an epidemic, and indeed, it is. The number of young men you see today, wasting away, must alarm us all.”

Encouraging practical solutions, Dr Binka advocated for a return to simple, healthy habits such as home gardening. She referenced the workshop’s 50-50 theory-practice approach and encouraged participants to take ownership of their nutrition.

“If you can start a backyard garden—even with cabbage or carrots—you don’t need to work for anyone. You become an employer while still being an employee, stress-free and eating healthy,” she advised.

As part of the workshop, journalists visited the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, where they observed a smart farming initiative focused on tackling food insecurity, promoting healthy diets, and reducing reliance on processed foods. Despite challenges like limited resources and unreliable water supply, the project has become a model for community-based agricultural empowerment.

Dr Binka underscored the significance of such hands-on initiatives in combating malnutrition and health risks.

“We have no excuse to talk about malnutrition or fish scarcity when we have the tools to grow our food. We must diversify and take responsibility for our health,” she asserted.

The Nkabom Collaboration aims to enhance the capacity of journalists to report on health, nutrition, and environmental issues with depth, urgency, and empathy. Through training and field exposure, media professionals are expected to become vocal advocates in addressing lifestyle-driven health crises and promoting sustainable well-being across Ghana.

Glaucoma Laser treatment launched at St. Thomas Eye Hospital

In a major step toward combating glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness in Ghana, St. Thomas Eye Hospital has officially launched the revolutionary Twin STAR SLT/YAG combo laser machine.

This advanced technology is set to transform glaucoma care nationwide, offering renewed hope to thousands at risk of vision loss.

At the launch, Dr Dziffa-Bella Imelda Ofori-Adjei, President of the Ophthalmology Society of Ghana, hailed the initiative as a “landmark investment in the future of glaucoma care.”

Speaking at the hospital’s Accra facility, she emphasised that the new machine represents more than equipment — it is a “bold statement of commitment, vision, and responsibility.”

“Glaucoma remains a silent thief of sight,” she said. “Up to 8% of Ghanaians over 40 may be living with this condition — most unaware until it’s too late. Early detection and timely treatment are critical.”

The Twin STAR combo machine merges two vital laser treatments — Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) and YAG laser — in one system. SLT, now globally accepted as a safe, non-invasive first-line treatment, lowers intraocular pressure and reduces dependence on eye drops.

The YAG function enhances surgical capabilities for conditions such as posterior capsular opacification and angle-closure glaucoma.

“This machine improves how we detect and manage glaucoma,” Dr. Ofori-Adjei added. “But beyond technology, it’s also about investing in people—training, skills, and patient-centred care.”

Also speaking at the event, Dr. Michael Ekuoba Gyasi, Executive Director and founder of St. Thomas Eye Hospital, expressed pride in the hospital’s leadership in advancing eye care.

“This is not just a win for Accra, but for the entire country,” he said. “We’re ready to deliver world-class eye care to all Ghanaians with this new technology.”

The event served both as a celebration and a call to action. Dr. Ofori-Adjei called on public and private institutions to unite in the national fight against glaucoma.

“The fight against avoidable blindness requires collective effort — from clinicians, policymakers, the media, civil society, and our communities. Let this launch be a beacon to inspire action.”

As Ghana contends with increasing rates of age-related eye disease, technologies like the Twin STAR SLT/YAG laser provide essential tools to preserve sight and improve lives.