The three-day event will bring together key decision-makers and captains of the health industry such as manufacturers, wholesal­ers, dealers and distributors of the medical diagnostic pharmaceutical sector in the sub-region.

The second edition of the ex­hibition is being organised by an Indian-based company, Wegvoraus in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

Launching the event in Accra yesterday, the Deputy Director of Technical Coordination, Ministry of Health, Ms Deborah Djanie stated that the event was timely as it will ensure development in Ghana’s sector.

She urged all business owners in the pharmaceutical industry to take advantage of the exhibition to collaborate with foreign exhib­itors to grow their businesses and contribute to the socio-economic growth of the country.

Ms Djanie pledged support towards the success of the exhibi­tion and hinted at future collab­orations between the MOH and Wegvoraus.

She underscored the need to properly regulate the procurement and distribution of pharmaceuti­cal products and medical devices to follow approved standards.

Ms Djanie stated that to ensure that challenges within the health sector were addressed, the MOH had devised a Framework Contract Arrangement in the Health sector to compel all health facilities to source for commodi­ties from the Central and Regional Medical Stores.

“The framework includes well-defined and well-understood roles and responsibilities for both the Ministry and suppliers, sup­ported by clearly defined lines of communications and collaborative relationships and set standards for goods procured under the frame­work contract,” she explained.

Ms Djanie hinted of the MOH’s collaboration with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to improve market surveillance of medical devices and ensure enforcement of the procurement and use of only FDA-registered products.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of Africa Medical Equipment Disposables Devic­es Manufacturers and Suppliers (FOAMEDDMS), Mr Anthony Ameka, said organisation was committed to collaborating with the MOH to develop a National Medical Devices Policy, to provide a general framework for the de­velopment of health technologies in Ghana, and serve as a reference document for efficient and effec­tive management of healthcare technologies.

The policy, he said, would jus­tify the use of healthcare technol­ogies whiles contributing toward the achievement of the overall health sector objectives.

He underscored the need for the MOH to include the acqui­sition of medical equipment in the Framework Contract Ar­rangement to reduce the cost of importation of the equipment for the medical facilities.

Mr Ameka expressed support towards the government’s vision of making Ghana a centre for medical excellence through the “Agenda 111 project.”

The Project Director of the West Africa Pharma Health Care Exhibition, Mr Thomas James, stated that the event was in line with the government’s mission to build a robust healthcare system and infrastructure in the country, hence the need for all stakeholders to be actively involved to ensure its success.

He urged all industry members and stakeholders to participate in the event to “meet and gel” with an existing and prospective business partner.