Pharmacists Advocate Regulation Of Online Pharmacies

The African Pharmaceutical Forum has called on drug regulators
in Africa to enact laws to guide the practice of internet-based
pharmacy in the continent.

The APF President, Dr Prosper Hiag, made the call during the
2021 Hybrid Regional Workshop of the association held in Lagos.

The workshop was themed, ‘Technological Innovations for Pharmacy
in Africa amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.’

Hiag lamented the indiscriminate online advertisement and sale
of both over-the-counter and prescription medicines, saying drug
regulatory authorities in the continent should step up the
enforcement of necessary laws on advertisement and sales of
medicines.

“The viral pandemic has led to an increase in the use of
technological innovations in the pharmaceutical sector.

“The pandemic has also provided African countries the
opportunity to develop local information technology-driven
solutions that can help them reach and serve patients better,” Hiag
said.

The keynote speaker, Dr. John Marfo, of the Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology, Ghana urged pharmacists to be
more proactive in using technological innovation to improve their
services.

He said, “Pharmacists must also embrace the lessons learnt
during the pandemic, especially in the area of digital knowledge.
The survival of pharmacists and pharmacies depends largely on how
pharmacy practitioners leverage technology for growth.

“The use of some digital apps aided communication of pharmacists
with clients tremendously in the heat of the COVID-19 lockdown when
physical meetings were restricted; some of the apps could be
appropriately adapted and adopted by practitioners.”

He stressed the need for the adoption of technological
innovations in the logistics and supply chain of medicines, adding
that it would help address the problem of uncoordinated drug
distribution channels in many African countries.

Marfo also urged the African Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agencies
and Academic Institutions to ensure that the training of pharmacy
students and practitioners was in tandem with current and
appropriate technological innovations.

The African Pharmaceutical Forum has called on drug regulators
in Africa to enact laws to guide the practice of internet-based
pharmacy in the continent.

The APF President, Dr Prosper Hiag, made the call during the
2021 Hybrid Regional Workshop of the association held in Lagos.

The workshop was themed, ‘Technological Innovations for Pharmacy
in Africa amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.’

Hiag lamented the indiscriminate online advertisement and sale
of both over-the-counter and prescription medicines, saying drug
regulatory authorities in the continent should step up the
enforcement of necessary laws on advertisement and sales of
medicines.

“The viral pandemic has led to an increase in the use of
technological innovations in the pharmaceutical sector.

“The pandemic has also provided African countries the
opportunity to develop local information technology-driven
solutions that can help them reach and serve patients better,” Hiag
said.

The keynote speaker, Dr. John Marfo, of the Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology, Ghana urged pharmacists to be
more proactive in using technological innovation to improve their
services.

He said, “Pharmacists must also embrace the lessons learnt
during the pandemic, especially in the area of digital knowledge.
The survival of pharmacists and pharmacies depends largely on how
pharmacy practitioners leverage technology for growth.

“The use of some digital apps aided communication of pharmacists
with clients tremendously in the heat of the COVID-19 lockdown when
physical meetings were restricted; some of the apps could be
appropriately adapted and adopted by practitioners.”

He stressed the need for the adoption of technological
innovations in the logistics and supply chain of medicines, adding
that it would help address the problem of uncoordinated drug
distribution channels in many African countries.

Marfo also urged the African Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agencies
and Academic Institutions to ensure that the training of pharmacy
students and practitioners was in tandem with current and
appropriate technological innovations.