Dr. Richmond Adusa-Poku, an Executive Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, has raised red flags over the unchecked wholesaling of opioids, warning that weak enforcement is enabling unauthorized sellers to acquire and distribute these powerful drugs without restriction.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Monday, March 31, Dr. Adusa-Poku stressed that opioids should only be dispensed by licensed hospital and community pharmacies. However, poor oversight has allowed over-the-counter (OTC) medicine sellers—who are only permitted to stock basic first aid medications—to infiltrate the opioid supply chain.
He cautioned that without urgent regulatory action, the country could face an escalating public health crisis.
“So we hear stories of these people also now purchasing some of these opioids from wholesale pharmacies. Because every wholesale pharmacy has got a superintendent pharmacist. Now where is the order note that a pharmacist in the community pharmacy must sign and stamp before these opioids are released to hospital, are released to community pharmacies to be able to sell? Now if those things are not strictly adhered to, then anybody somewhere from the North, through B/A, Ashanti, etc. can just go to a wholesale pharmacy and say I run a pharmacy – can I buy this? And without any authorization, the person is given to buy. And the person goes to sell or push in his rural town or village and then some people there too will buy.”
Urgent Need for Education and Regulation
Dr. Adusa-Poku emphasized that beyond enforcement, increased education is needed to curb the growing opioid problem. He acknowledged that the new Registrar of the Pharmacy Council is working on national education initiatives but stressed that stronger regulation and adequate resources are necessary to make a lasting impact.
“So we need to do a lot of education – the pharmacy council will have to go down and do a lot of education. And I know the new registrar is feverishly making plans of doing a lot of education across the country and along the players that are within its ambit. So I’m sure when these things are properly done and they are resourced to do the work that they must do, whether with the NCCE or wherever resources they can pull together I know that we can put in the plug and stop this bleeding that is taking place.”
With opioid misuse rising and unregulated sales increasing in communities, stakeholders have called for immediate government intervention to close regulatory loopholes, tighten control over wholesale pharmacies, and enhance monitoring to prevent further abuse.
