We sell tramadol only to patients with prescription – Pharmacists

Some pharmacists in a random sample by the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday said they sell tramadol only to patients with prescription by a medical doctor.

Mrs Asamoah Kakra, a Pharmacist at ANN’s Pharmaceutical Shop at Sukura in Accra, said selling of tramadol was not illegal but it must be under strict prescription.

She said most people were abusing or resorting to the use of painkillers such as tramadol due to the nature of the work they did, adding: “We need consistent public education on the side-effects of drug abuse”.

Mrs Kakra explained that in recent times the youth had resorted to the use of tramadol not for health reasons but for emotional satisfaction.

She, therefore, advised them to stay out of drug abuse, especially tramadol, because of the negative side-effects.

Mr Robert Tetteh, the Pharmacist of God Knows Licensed Chemical Shop at Suncity in Tema West, told the GNA that the influx of fake drugs was destroying the businesses of licenced pharmacists and posing a threat to the health of the population.

He said scores of customers thought it was rather cheaper to buy from unlicensed or illegal sellers without considering the health implications.

Mr Francis Nuertey, owner of Nhyira Chemical Shop in Tema, shared a personal experience where a neighbour died of malaria due to the use of fake anti-malaria medicine she bought from an unlicensed dealer.

Yaaya Ahmed, a Pharmacist at Ayea Adom Drugstore, urged the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to intensify its enforcement and surveillance on all illegal dealers to curb the menace from the society.

“All unlicensed chemical shops should be closed down and not be allowed to operate,” she said.

Mr James Duah, a Nurse at Over-the-Counter Pharmaceutical in Kumasi, in a telephone interview with the GNA, said licensed pharmacy shops and drug sellers were ready to assist the FDA to fight the activities of fake dealers.

“We are ready to help the FDA to fight the activities of non-licensed pharmacies and those who sell fake drugs to the people,” he said.

“Before one could operate a pharmacy shop, he needs to go through a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course.”

Mr Duah said he had been in the business for 10 years and to qualify to sell drugs, one must be certified as it was difficult for non-qualified drug sellers to read prescriptions from doctors.

 

 

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

Related Articles

Back to top button