Some private pharmacy shops are cashing in on the strike embarked on by the Government Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA).
Pharmacies in public hospitals are closed due to the withdrawal of services by GHOSPA.
[contextly_sidebar id=”LUYPx0bGRzDaZza2fE2eWbt0De6iHmx3″]A visit to the Korle Bu teaching hospital over the weekend revealed to Citi News that most of the pharmacies in the hospitals including the main pharmacy which operates a 24-hour services were closed.
The only three in operation at the time were those at the Plastics and burns unit, the maternity centre and the cardio centre.
Outside the hospital patients were buying their drugs from the private pharmacy shops in the area.
Speaking to Citi News, some private pharmacists said the increased number of clients may affect their operation hours.
“There’s a lot of pressure on us,” explains one attendant “I wouldn’t want to say that this has affected us positively because we are service providers and we have to do everything to meet the demands of our customers. Already, some patients are calling for an extension of our closing hours so they can come in for the drugs since they do not know when GHOSPA will resume. If the situation is not addressed immediately, we may have to consider their request” he concludes.
Meanwhile, some patients who spoke to Citi News expressed frustration about the unavailability of some drugs in the private pharmacies.
One parent said “I was transferred from the Tema general hospital to come and purchase some drugs for my 20-day old baby. I went to the hospital and the place was closed. I’m told that is the only place I can get the medicine. All the private pharmacies I’ve been to say I can only get it from the main hospital. I am very frustrated now and do not know what to do.”
–
By: Farida Shaibu/citifmonline.com/Ghana