Rose Mestika
25 July 2008
Addis Abeba — The Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Association (EPA) is working on ways to take-over from the Ministry of Health, the mandate of issuing professional licenses for pharmacists.
To that effect, the association is discussing on the matter and hopes to snatch the task in the near future.
This was revealed at a scientific workshop for members of the association being held at the Ghion Hotel.
Members are attending the three-day scientific workshop on the theme of Pharmacy in the health care delivery system of Ethiopia: past, present and future.
Participants on the first day discussed on current challenges facing the profession and professionals including the way forward.
Shortage of qualified pharmacists, among others, was identified as the major hurdle towards the achievement of the ideals and goals of the association, including that of the ministry of health.
Girma Alemu Public Relations Officer of EPA told The Daily Monitor that the association was closely working with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to alleviate the problems that emerge in the profession related to the shortage of pharmacists and not getting professional upgrading on time.
The numbers of pharmacists who are giving a service in a single hospital is not enough to satisfy the demands of the public, participants, most of them pharmacists urged.
He said the concerned bodies should look in to that to find ways of solving the problems.
"The association is working with the Ministry of Education and other related organizations on how to resolve this problem, to have more professionals on the field and also to facilitate the conditions for the pharmacists to upgrade themselves" the association said in response to the comments forwarded from members at the workshop.
Girma said EPA has around 1000 members which he said was far from enough to meet the demands from the public.
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