Through a partnership of Roche Pharma, a pharmaceutical giant and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), breast cancer medicine—Herceptin—have been added to the NHIS medicine list.
At least, 230 Ghanaian women, who, hitherto, would have found the cost unbearable, have benefited from the intervention.
This was made known on Friday when the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House.
The President of PSGH, Ben Botwe, who led the delegation commended President Akufo-Addo for the “leadership shown, in steering the affairs of the nation through the turbulent Covid-19 pandemic.”
He commended the government, also, for the financial support through the EXIM Bank and the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), to local pharmaceutical manufacturers and various categories of pharmaceutical businesses to enable them to support the National response against the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the issue of Indebtedness of NHIA to service providers which was affecting Pharmaceuticals, the President of PSGH said “I am happy to inform you that with some cursory research done, there is a significant improvement in the reimbursement of service providers.
“Indeed, previous arrears have been cleared while most service providers whose claims are in order up to April 2020,” he stated.
Ben Botwe said the PSGH had also received a request for proposals from the Ministry of Health to assist in reviewing the list of medicines to be restricted for local production.
“… and indeed, we’re working with the relevant stakeholders to respond to this laudable request.”
He commended the National Development Planning Commission (MDPC) for working to develop the “Ghana pharmaceutical Sector Development planned Document.”
President Akufo-Addo said he was “happy to hear about this partnership between Roche Pharma and NHIA producing this drug for breast cancer.
“This is the newest drug for breast cancer and is now available within our National Insurance Scheme, which is a very big step for us. It’s excellent,” he stated.
President Akufo-Addo assured the PSGH of the government’s commitment to supporting the pharmaceutical companies to compete globally.
The President said the COVID-19 would have been difficult to manage “but for your (PSGH) involvement and corporation the country owes you a lot of thanks for the way and manner you stood up to help.”
Rex Mainoo Yeboah, ISD
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