X
07:23Last update on: 13 Aug 2013
The Namibian
Tue 13 Aug 2013


POLL
What do you think of the renaming and addition of regions and constituencies?
Results so far:
Older Polls
Kamwi commends pharmacists
Nomhle Kangootui
LACK OF PHARMACISTS ... The health infrastructure including phar- macy departments in public health institutions like hospitals and clinics needs serious attention, the Minister of Health Richard Kamwi has said.
Photograph by Henry Van Rooi
THE Minister of Health Richard Kamwi has commended Namibian pharmacists for their positive contribution to the country’s health sector in the face of financial and other constraints.
Kamwi, who was speaking during the 2013 National Pharmacists’ Forum in Windhoek yesterday, also said his ministry appreciates and acknowledges the importance of pharmacists.
The National Pharmacists’ Forum is held annually and it brings together diverse groups of pharmacists working in the public sector in Namibia to discuss and share experiences and challenges they encounter.
“Many see medication as a simple commodity but as a Ministry, we appreciate and acknowledge the importance of pharmacists although the resource constrains due to the financial crisis have impacted greatly on the support that we have been receiving from some of our development partners, more specifically in the human resources sector,” Kamwi said.
The minister also said his ministry had successfully absorbed 60 pharmacists and pharmacist assistants into the public health structures.
“The staff establishment review process is also in the final stages and will be implemented as soon as possible. This exercise will increase the number of pharmacists and also contribute to an improved health care delivery system,” he said. One of the problems highlighted at the was the lack of local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals that has seen the country relying on imported medicines.
The Director of Tertiary Health Care and Clinical Support Services in the Ministry, Paulina Nghipandulwa, said the pharmacist profession is facing many challenges.
“There is a critical shortage of skilled manpower in this profession. In general and in particular most challenges are in the public sectors. Although the National Health Training Centre’s Pharmacist Assistance Programme has tried to assist with the limited number of pharmacists in the public sector, we still have a long way to go before we reach an acceptable situation,” Nghipandulwa said.
She however added that the new Pharmacy School at the University of Namibia is a step in the right direction in addressing the problem.
The National Pharmacists’ Forum is held annually and it brings together diverse groups of pharmacists working in the public sector in Namibia to discuss and share experiences and challenges they encounter.
“Many see medication as a simple commodity but as a Ministry, we appreciate and acknowledge the importance of pharmacists although the resource constrains due to the financial crisis have impacted greatly on the support that we have been receiving from some of our development partners, more specifically in the human resources sector,” Kamwi said.
The minister also said his ministry had successfully absorbed 60 pharmacists and pharmacist assistants into the public health structures.
“The staff establishment review process is also in the final stages and will be implemented as soon as possible. This exercise will increase the number of pharmacists and also contribute to an improved health care delivery system,” he said. One of the problems highlighted at the was the lack of local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals that has seen the country relying on imported medicines.
The Director of Tertiary Health Care and Clinical Support Services in the Ministry, Paulina Nghipandulwa, said the pharmacist profession is facing many challenges.
“There is a critical shortage of skilled manpower in this profession. In general and in particular most challenges are in the public sectors. Although the National Health Training Centre’s Pharmacist Assistance Programme has tried to assist with the limited number of pharmacists in the public sector, we still have a long way to go before we reach an acceptable situation,” Nghipandulwa said.
She however added that the new Pharmacy School at the University of Namibia is a step in the right direction in addressing the problem.
Comment on this article
www.weatherphotos.co.za
Windhoek
7°
24°
0mm
Walvis Bay
8°
22°
0mm
Oshakati
8°
31°
0mm
Keetmanshoop
1°
17°
0mm
Grootfontein
2°
27°
0mm
Gobabis
5°
24°
0mm
(August 12)
View more ...
