The 2021 batch of graduates of the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) programme has threatened to stop doing their housemanship by 29 August 2022 if the Ghana Pharmacy Council and the Ministry of Health fail to address their grievances.

The Pharm.D graduates are calling for issues relating to their clearance, appointment letters and salaries to be addressed.

A statement issued by the Pharm.D class of 2022 noted: “As required by law, Pharm.D graduates are required to complete a 12-month training period in order to be migrated unto the permanent register of pharmacists and to fulfil our National Service.”

According to the graduates, the Pharmaceutical Council had in a letter, instructed them to begin their service on Monday, 24 January 2022, which they did.

However, the Pharm.D graduates noted that after “Seven months, they have not received appointment letters from the Ministry of Health,” despite raising concerns.

The class of 2021 indicated that about a month ago, an engagement with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), Pharmacy Council, Ministry of Health and other stakeholders was held and they were assured that their “cause was being pursued with all urgency it deserved.”

Also at that same meeting, some reliefs were proposed including: “allocation of interest-free loans from the PSGH, consultation of heads of the various institutions with house officers to possibly give us some allowances, discussions with our preceptors to lessen the workload placed on us to allow some flexibility for us to pick up locum jobs.”

The class of 2021 commended the PSGH executives for their thoughtfulness in making available GHS2,000 interest-free loans for those interested.

However, they noted that they are uncertain on which day they will get paid and most of them are unable to get guarantors to acquire the loans.

They also bemoaned the halting of allowances from the various facilities they work in, due to the failure of “clearance and no appointment letters.”