Chief Executive Officer of the Macandy Group has called on government to support Medical Counter Assistants (MCA) training institutions in the country in a bid to help achieve the overall target of universal health coverage.
Emmanuel Arthur – Boahen says time has come for private individuals and cooperate Ghana to support healthcare delivery in the country by empowering (MCAs).
He says while government focuses on the one million coders programme in training youth in ICT, same energy could be channeled into the training of Medicine Counter Assistants to help in the dispensing of medication at the pharmacies and chemical shops.
“I appeal to the government through the National Youth Authority (NYA) and Youth Employment Agency (YEA) to sponsor MCAs across the country as they’ve taken the responsibility of training one million coders. If even 1,000 are trained, they will be posted to pharmacies, department or health centers across the country” he stated.
Speaking at the 8th graduation of Macandy College of Health here in Accra, Mr. Boahen also called on the Pharmacy Council and the Association of Medicine Counter Assistant Ghana to ensure regulatory frameworks are adhered to. This he said will help absorb MCAs into mainstream healthcare delivery.
“Pharmacy Council of Ghana must ensure there’s a strong formation of Medicines Counter Assistant Association to enhance responsibility for the assigned structure in their general well-being” he stressed.
The 8th Graduation of Macandy College of Health was under the theme: Beyond the counter; providing care, serving community with knowledge.
Emmanuel Boahen said, while government seeks to achieve universal health coverage, it is imperative to incorporate MCA training especially in rural and peri-urban communities.
“It’s difficult for most of such persons to read and dispense prescription drugs. Their training and deployment will go to the heart of assisting medical superintendent, matrons, nurses and other senior officers at the health centers” he stressed.
Story by : Wisdom Hededzome
