The fifth Ghana Pharma and Healthcare Awards have been held, with a call for sustainable Innovation and technologies to bridge industrial gaps in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Themed ‘Positioning the Pharma Industry to Meet Future Trends and Technology’, the event focused on addressing innovative and technological shortfalls in the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare industries.
Aimed at identifying projects and individual achievements of industry professionals and partners who have produced clear values and compelling results, the awards also sought to recognize excellence and provide recognition for individuals and businesses which have played a defining role and demonstrated achievement across a wide domain of sustainability, operational excellence and innovation.
At the awards, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Globe Productions – organizer of the Ghana Pharma and Healthcare Awards – Latif Abubakar said technology and innovations are evolving faster than expected, hence the need to position industries for future trends and development.
He indicated that in an era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when AI systems have been designed to exhibit behaviour associated with human intelligence – such as planning, learning and reasoning – industries and business must adapt to remain relevant. “Considering the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry’s importance to growth of the economy, it has become imperative for government and its partners to position them for these future trends.”
Mr. Abubakar called for broader stakeholder engagement and pledged his outfit’s continuous support to meet future trends and technology. He said the Ghana Pharma Awards stand for innovation and technology, noting that awardees are selected through a vigorous process set on a benchmark for excellence – with an awarding board chaired by Director General-Ghana Standards Authority, Prof. Alex Dodoo, and a team of competent personalities.
Embracing Future Trends
In a speech read on his behalf, Minister of Health Kweku Agyemang Manu said embracing future trends, technology and innovation is the surest way to create a sustainable and inclusive healthcare system for the benefit of all Ghanaians. He said the ability of AI to adapt and evolve progressively makes it an invaluable tool in revolutionizing the approach to healthcare.
The minister revealed that the event’s theme aligns with the 2023 Ghana Health sector theme, which focuses on ‘Sustainable Financing for Primary Health Care Toward Attainment of Universal Health Coverage in Ghana: Role of Stakeholders’, and said it is evident that achieving universal health coverage not only includes financial risk protection but also access to high-quality essential health-care services.
Stating that government will continuously upgrade the country’s healthcare infrastructure to accommodate emerging healthcare needs, Mr. Agyemang Manu said as part of efforts put in place to increase access to healthcare, government has launched a programme to build and equip more hospitals and health facilities across the country to ensure every Ghanaian has access to quality healthcare services. “Additionally, we have prioritised development of our human resource capacity through the training and recruitment of additional healthcare professionals,” he said.
In acknowledging the importance of partnerships in achieving healthcare development goals, he said government is also making bold strides toward building a robust healthcare system in Ghana.
The minister encouraged industry players to embrace innovative trends and technology, and urged them to continue their indispensable efforts in the provision of quality and affordable medicines. “Let us work together to address challenges facing the industry, and drive toward the realization of a more robust healthcare system in Ghana,” he said.
“Let us remember that healthcare is not just a vital aspect of our society, but also a fundamental pillar for socio-economic progress,” he added.
Summit and exhibition
The awards were preceded by a business summit and exhibition that brought together selected industry experts and players, to deliberate on issues affecting the industry and recommend workable solutions to deal with them.
Awards
In all, 70 companies and personalities were honoured for their contributions and exemplary work in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Atlantic Lifesciences Limited (Ltd.), Pharmanova Ltd. and its CEO Dhananjay Tripathi received the Excellence in Innovation and Technology, Manufacturing company and CEO of the Year awards respectively, while Ernest Chemists Ltd. and its CEO Ernest Bediako Sampong picked up the Company of the Year and Lifetime Achievement and awards.
Samuel Amo Tobbin, CEO-Tobinco Pharmaceuticals Ltd., and Sir Raj Mohan, CEO-Unichem Ghana Ltd., were adjudged Entrepreneur and Personality of the Year respectively.
Dr. Ellen Foster-Nyarko of Top-Up Pharmacy and Sheikh Dr. Amin Mohammed Osei Bonsu of Amen Scientific Herbal and Alternative Medical Hospital emerged Outstanding Community Pharmacist and Herbal CEO of the Year.
The Industry Leadership Award for Community Pharmacy Practice went to the National Chairman of Community Pharmacy Practice Association (CPPA), Pharmacist Dr. Emmanuel K. Ireland; with the Community Pharmacy Intern going to Solomon Odoi of Top Up Pharmacy. The World Health Organisation (WHO) received the Outstanding Contribution to the Health Sector award.
The Ghana Pharma and Healthcare Awards was organised in partnership with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, FOAMEDDMS, Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers Association of Ghana and Community Practice Pharmarcists Association, and powered by Globe Productions and the News Plus App.
BFTonline