Minister of Health, Dr Kwaku Agyeman Manu has cautioned Directors of Medical stores to be mindful of dangers associated with buying medicine from unapproved sources.
He said taking in fake medication or counterfeit drugs for treatment of diseases has dire consequences on one’s health and can lead to death.
Speaking at the launch of the Ghana Integrated Logistics Management Information System by the Ghana Health Service in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, he said the new system will go a long way to completely eradicate or reduce the supply of fake medicines.
The Ministry of Health in partnership with the US Agency for International Development and the Ghana Global fund launched the Ghana Integrated Logistics Management Information System GhilMIS, to revolutionise Ghana’s health supply chain.
The new Information System is an online platform that provides real data on health commodity inventories. The system collects and analyses data to enable the Government to reduce waste resulting from expired commodities, detect counterfeit products, and ensure that quality commodities are available to all Ghanaians.
Currently, 299 health facilities will be using it by November this year.
When it becomes fully operational, health workers can record their commodity inventory to prevent stock-outs, facilitating appropriate planning to ensure a constant supply of life saving medicines for clients.
Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu spoke about the essence of the introduction of the new system and its significance to the delivery of quality health care in the country.
The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Samuel Nuertey Ayetey noted that the Ministry of Health has shown commitment in the provision of innovative policies in the delivery of quality health care in the public health supply chain system.
He lauded the implementation of the GhiLMIS saying it has brought a massive improvement in the supply chain system.
