The Center for Applied Research and Innovation in Supply Chain- Africa (CARISCA) has met with the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG). The meeting, which was held virtually, was to discuss ways CARISCA could partner with PMAG in providing solutions to challenges faced by the Association.
Professor Nathaniel Boso, Principal Investigator, CARISCA, welcomed the team on board. He noted that CARISCA’s priority is to ensure that research provided and training of supply chain professional is relevant to industrial stakeholders partnering with the center. The Center, he added, is ready to partner with the association to aid in providing possible solutions to problems they face.
Professor Boso mentioned that, CARISCA is willing to support PMAG with adequate training of their staff, provide specific toolkits and manuals to support the work of the association as well as carry out intensive research when needed.
Briefing the team on PMAG, the President, Mr. Kofi Nsiah, explained that the Association is a body of members who belong to the manufacturers of pharmaceuticals in Ghana. The association which has been in existence for over 20 years, he noted, has been working hand in hand with government to ensure that the majority of pharmaceutical products needed and produced in the country and other countries in West Africa are of quality and efficient.
Mr. Nsiah noted that financing supply chain as well as the supply chain order or process form part of the problem faced by the association. He also noted that the association faced warehouse challenges from heath institutions and irrational planning from both producers and providers. These problems he added, contribute to the ineffectiveness of supply chain in health.
The Executive Secretary, Mrs. Lucia Addae, expressed her excitement towards the partnership. She was hopeful that at the end of the project, relevant research would be produced and later translated into solutions for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders of the project.
Mr. Kim Shelsby extended his gratitude to PMAG for their contributions and participation. He noted that the meeting marked the beginning of a strong alliance between the two institutions and further pledged CARISCA’s commitment to addressing the identified challenges in the best way possible.