Between September 22 and 25, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) celebrated its 90th anniversary and held its Annual General Meeting at the University of Ghana. The week‑long event, themed “Science, Impact, Legacy,” drew pharmacists and stakeholders from across the country to discuss solutions to challenges in Ghana’s pharmaceutical sector.
Exhibitors included the Drug Safety Foundation (DSF) and 4 Shelves Consult, both of whom highlighted initiatives aimed at improving medicine safety, sustainability and inventory control. DSF introduced the SafeRx Hub, a digitised system that provides an end‑to‑end solution for the safe disposal of expired and unwanted medicines from pharmacies, over‑the‑counter medicine sellers (OTCMS) and healthcare facilities. Co‑founder Pharm. Alexis Banie said the platform was created to protect human health, the environment and other species through responsible medicine disposal, noting that the Food and Drugs Authority supervises the process.
SafeRx Hub attracted attention from key sector figures, including Dr. Angela Ackon of the WHO Ghana Office, Professor Irene Kretchy of the University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, and Pharm. Jasper Sablah of PharmaVax Ghana. With more than 6,000 pharmacies and around 27,000 OTCMS nationwide, the initiative seeks a structured, transparent approach to pharmaceutical waste management.
4 Shelves Consult, founded by Dr. Obed Bediako, showcased its work in inventory management, procurement, supply‑chain optimisation, compliance, staff training and business intelligence. The consultancy’s latest project, Sustainable Access through Licensed Value Exchange (SALVE), connects licensed pharmacies and healthcare facilities to redistribute eligible recoverable stock while it remains within its guaranteed shelf life. Bediako explained that poor stock management leads to financial loss and, in pharmacy, to patients missing essential medicines, underscoring the importance of SALVE.
The exhibition underscored the role of local innovations in advancing the One Health approach by linking pharmaceutical safety, environmental protection and efficient healthcare supply chains. PSGH leadership, led by Pharm. Paul Owusu‑Donkor (PhD) and ECPG Chair Pharm. Reginald Sekyi‑Brown, thanked the organisers for providing a platform for organisations to showcase their innovations and engage stakeholders across the profession.
As the sector looks ahead, the innovations presented at the AGM signal a growing commitment to safer, more sustainable pharmaceutical practices in Ghana.
