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Global Pharmaceutical manufacturer, Cipla, says it intends to go beyond its mandate of providing access to quality medicines by investing in the country to provide an avenue for jobs for the youth and professionals as it expands its footprint into Ghana.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cipla Africa, Paul Miller, who said this, explained that his outfit would empower local communities through various projects and initiatives to promote job creation, infrastructure development and sustainable economic growth.
“At this stage, we will have a distribution office. We have not confirmed manufacturing facilities yet, but we are always exploring local manufacturing opportunities as we understand the multiplier effect of manufacturing on the local economy, and also on the importance of continuity of medicine supply,” he added.
Mr Miller was speaking at a media and stakeholders engagement in Accra as part of the launch of the company’s activities in the country. The initial therapeutic portfolio Cipla is introducing to the Ghanaian market encompasses respiratory, gastro, cardiovascular/diabetes management, pain/colds/flu, and anti-infectives.
Mr Miller, who doubles as the company’s spokesperson, intimated that even though the company was committed to making quality medicines, it was equally committed to making it as affordable as possible so that all income levels could have access.
“We do believe that a healthy patient is a critical enabler of a healthy economy, and we look forward to partnering with the government, practitioners and patients to make sure health conditions are best treated so that we can all live long and healthy lives. That’s our purpose and vision in Ghana,” he said.
He added that the company would be collaborating with local partners to facilitate corrective surgery for people born with a cleft condition.
Mr Miller also said that his organisation would go beyond providing medicine to liaise with local authorities and partners to ensure the mental well-being of healthcare professionals to ensure better health outcomes.
He said the company would accomplish this through the organisation’s “CrazySocksDocs” initiative where health workers wear mismatching socks to create fun and offer a momentary respite from the hustles of the health sector while encouraging them to talk to professionals about their mental state.
Mr Miller explained that healthcare professionals went above and beyond to ensure that the general population was healthy at their “personal risk”, and stressed that they also needed to be taken care of.
He cited the COVID-19 pandemic as an example to buttress his point.
“The medical profession is a tough job, and who takes care of the doctors? Often, doctors don’t like to talk about their mental health. There are concerns that they’re sometimes embarrassed about feeling depressed or anxious,” Mr Miller added.
