Committee to review essential medicine list

A forty-member committee made up of health experts has been inaugurated by the outgoing Minister of Health, Ms Sherry Ayittey, to review the National Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicine List (EML).

The committee, chaired by Dr Francis Ofei, a lecturer at the Department of Therapeutics at the University of Ghana, is mandated to review the common diseases in the country, based on the current disease trends and their diagnoses, preventive and treatment measures spelt out in a booklet to guide health practitioners.

The treatment guidelines and essential medicine lists, which guide the procurement and supply of medicines in the public and private sectors, medicine donations and local medicine production, were last reviewed in 2010. 

The outcome of the review exercise, which is targeted to be completed by December this year, will align the National Health Insurance Medicines List with the EML and ensure that the reimbursement list is a subset of the EML.

The use of medicine

Inaugurating the committee, Ms Ayittey said medicines being reimbursed should be of accepted quality and used responsibly.

She expressed the importance of all stakeholders’ involvement and co-operation in the exercise to ensure the best results and safer use of medicines.

Safe medication 

Dr Ofei  said the review exercise was “very relevant in view of the changing trend of medicines and diseases in the country and around the world.”

He added that the guidelines would  help to determine the appropriate medicines to be procured for specific conditions that prevailed in the country. 

“Health experts need to be guided and educated on diagnosis of conditions and the medicine to be prescribed using available scientific approach,” Dr Ofei stated. 

Dr Ofei said the review process would also be guided by the World Health Organisation’s standard and added that both the private and public sectors should apply the guidelines when implemented.

He expressed the hope that the needed logistics for the process would be available to meet the targeted timeline.

Writer’s email: salomey.appiah@graphic.com.gh