Over 30 international pharmaceutical and medical companies are set to arrive in Ghana to share with other players in the industry the latest technology on the healthcare market. The foreign companies, mainly from Europe, Asia and America would showcase the newest packaging and processing technology and the pharmaceutical products in Ghana. This was made known at the launch of the 4th International Pharmaceutical, Medical and Healthy Food Fair which is scheduled for 22 September at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre in Accra. The event is being organized by the Ministry of Health and Shem Pharma Services. In an interview after the launch, Humphrey Tetteh, Chief Operating Officer of Shem Pharma Services, an international trade exhibition company, said the previous fairs also attracted foreign company. Though the exact number of exhibitors was not readily available it is expected that over 100,000 visitors would patronize the fair. Between 40,000 and 80,000 people patronized the last three fairs which were held in Accra and Kumasi and it is expected that the number of participants would increase this year. Joseph Yeleh Chireh, Minister of Health noted that “though prevention costs less than medical intervention, unfortunately we have a sick care system rather than a healthcare system that focuses on medication and surgery for treatment.” Preventive health care, he stressed, is the cornerstone of a health care system that focuses on preventing an illness from occurring rather than treating it. “Those who fail to recognize the importance of preventive health care always pay dearly for it,” he said. George Dale Pallah, Director at the Ministry in charge of Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation, hinted that there would be medical conferences and seminar which would be operated by the Medical and Dental Council. He said healthy lifestyle would be showcased during the fair while there would be free screening for visitors as well as registration of people who wish to join the National Health Insurance Scheme. In addition to the various stands that would be mounted for local and international health institutions, pharmaceutical companies, clinical psychologists and dieticians as well as wellness and preventive health service providers, the fair would also be used to showcase traditional health foods from the 10 regions of Ghana.