By Mustapha Jarju
The Health Minister, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, has lamented that the venturing of “few” health workers into the backstreet pharmacy business is one of the major challenges confronting his ministry.
Dr. Samateh warned that the participation of “few” health workers in unauthorized pharmacy business is illegal and urged the Nursing and Midwifery Council to adopt a firm stance on the issue.
“It is illegal in the first place and when the team of our inspectors went around, sadly the people they apprehend are from the (health) fraternity and tend to give the fraternity a bad name. And it is actually unlawful,” he lamented.
Dr. Samateh was recently speaking at the inauguration of the Nursing and Midwifery Council at the Ministry of Health in Banjul.
He tasked the council to conduct regular announced and unannounced visits to health facilities across the country.
The health minister also encouraged the council to continuously engage the government to ensure the safety of health practitioners in the public sector for improved service delivery.