The Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) has issued an urgent appeal to President John Mahama and relevant ministries to clear and post 599 inducted pharmacists who have been left idle for 10 months after completing their training.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 10, the association said the delays have created a dangerous gap in the country’s healthcare system, while also stalling the careers and livelihoods of the affected graduates.
“The non-posting of these 599 pharmacists means our hospitals are operating without this critical layer of patient safety and clinical support, leading to an unsustainable workload for existing staff and sub-optimal patient care,” GHOSPA said.
According to the group, pharmacists have not been recruited into the public service for the past five years, leaving hospitals across the country severely understaffed.
It said that at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, only 11 pharmacists are currently employed instead of the 35 required under the Ministry of Health’s staffing norms.
GHOSPA warned that the prolonged delay is having devastating effects on the professional and personal lives of the young pharmacists.
“For the 599 inducted pharmacists, this 10-month delay is not merely an administrative hurdle; it is a period of professional stagnation and personal anxiety with severe consequences.”
The association stressed that deploying the pharmacists should be seen not as an expense, but as a critical investment in Ghana’s health system.
“We acknowledge the fiscal responsibilities of government. However, we firmly believe that the deployment of these pharmacists is not an expense, but a critical investment into the nation’s health security and a moral obligation to its future healthcare leaders,” the statement read.
GHOSPA is urging the government to issue immediate financial clearance for the 599 inducted pharmacists, facilitate their posting to accredited health facilities to begin housemanship, and establish a sustainable system to prevent such delays in the future.
“Our health system is in dire need of their expertise. Our young professionals are in dire need of the opportunity to serve. We call on the government to act now to secure both the future of these pharmacists and the health of the nation,” the statement added.