Pharmaceutical Society warns against abuse of antimicrobial drugs

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has cautioned the public against the abuse of antimicrobial drugs for undiagnosed diseases. 

It said not only was the abuse a threat to the health safety, but the consequences of AMR transcended health as it was also affecting food security, economic stability and development.

The President of PSGH, Pharmacist Dr Samuel Kow Donkoh, at a press conference, held at its Secretariat in Accra last Friday, stressed that antimicrobial drugs were to be used for treatment only when diagnosed for disease conditions that required their use for effective results under the supervision of a medical doctor or a pharmacist.

He thus explained:  "AMR occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the effects of medicines designed to prevent them from multiplying or to kill them.

“This renders treatments ineffective, leading to prolonged illnesses; increased mortality, and rising healthcare costs."

Dr Donkoh stated that the Medicine Counter Assistants (MCAs) were not mandated to sell or administer antimicrobials to patients; hence, must refrain from selling them to people who complained about certain medical conditions or request them without the supervision of a pharmacist.

AMR awareness week

The press conference was to create awareness about the growing threat of AMR and foster a collective commitment to combating its spread, and the safe use of antimicrobials as the PSGH celebrated the 2024 World AMR Resistance Week from November 18-24.

It was on the theme: "Educate, Advocate. Act Now! Let us use antimicrobials wisely”.

Present at the press conference were, the Executive Secretary of PSGH, Rev. Dr Dennis Sena Awitty; standing Executive Member and Treasurer of PSGH, Pharm. Dr Naana Aboagye-Asare (left); the Head of Registration and Licensing at the Ghana Pharmacy Council, Dr Mrs Brenda Yayra Kpong (right), and the Technical Officer at the Pharmacy Directorate of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Emmanuella Abassah-Konadu.

Burden

Sharing some data, the President of the PSGH highlighted the antimicrobial burden, which  reported that 5,900 deaths were caused by antimicrobial resistance.

Globally, AMR was projected to claim up to 10 million lives annually by 2050, if urgent actions were not taken.

In Ghana, he said, AMR had become a growing concern that threatens to reverse decades of progress in healthcare delivery.

He cited "misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in human and veterinary medicine; inadequate infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings; poor sanitation and hygiene, which facilitate the spread of drug-resistant infections" as contributing factors.

Commitment

The President of PSGH affirmed the Society's unwavering commitment to combating AMR through training pharmacists in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) practices, community engagement and collaboration with local communities to promote good hygiene, vaccination and responsible medicine use.

"We continue to leverage our membership of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) and many other internal and external collaborations to get pharmacists trained in AMS.

"The regional branches of the PSGH have been actively engaging people in communities, churches, mosques, markets, and lorry stations in various regions to educate them on antimicrobial resistance and related conditions," he stated.