The Acting Registrar of the Pharmacy Council, Pharmacy Council, Dr. Daniel Amaning Danquah, has disclosed that the Council is set to carry out swoops on unlicensed facilities providing pharmacy services across the country as part of measures to sanitise the pharmaceutical practice as safeguard the health of Ghanaians.

According to Dr. Danquah, the nationwide exercise would be carried out with the support of the Ghana Police Service and other security services.

“The task force will visit every region because we are acting on behalf of the entire nation,” he said.

The Acting Registrar of the Pharmacy Council disclosed this to journalists after a meeting with the leadership of Off-the-Counter Medicine Sellers (OTCMS) popularly called 'drug stores' and licensed pharmacy proprietors and other pharmacy operators in the Western Region.

The meeting was part of his familiarisation visit to introduce himself and the management of the Pharmacy Council to key stakeholders and brief them on the digital innovations or electronic-pharmacy procedures to enhance their services to the public.

He explained that the exercise was not only meant to stop the illegal practice by peddlers but also to prosecute the illegal practitioners, stressing that “the safety of the public is our main concern”.

He then called on the general public to desist from purchasing any forms of drugs from peddlers who have not been licensed to sell medicines, adding "It is dangerous, risky, and unhealthy to purchase their products".

 Dr Danquah cautioned OTCMS to ensure that they operate within their stipulated scope of practice.

He pointed out the pharmacy sector was a regulated area because its activities affected human lives.

For that matter, it could not be left in the hands of unlicensed individuals or companies, he stressed.

He also warned the over-the-counter medicine sellers to adhere to the directive not to sell categories 'A' & 'B' medicines which are prescription medications in their respective facilities.

"Some of the pharmacy proprietors and OTCMS sometimes veered off their scopes of practice and sold the wrong medicines to clients", he revealed.