GHOSPA Raises Alarm as Only 100 of Over 4,000 Verified Pharmacists Employed
The Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association has expressed deep concern over what it describes as the low number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians recruited under the latest exercise conducted by the Ministry of Health Ghana.
According to the association, the figures released will do little to address the growing staffing crisis in public health facilities across the country.
In a press statement issued on Monday, May 11, 2026, GHOSPA acknowledged the Ministry’s efforts to begin clearing the backlog of unemployed pharmacy professionals. However, it stressed that the number of recruits falls far short of what is required to ensure effective pharmaceutical care in government hospitals.
The association revealed that more than 4,000 pharmacists and over 6,000 pharmacy technicians were successfully verified through the Ministry’s recruitment portal, all of whom confirmed their readiness to accept postings within the public health system. Despite this, only 100 pharmacists and 150 pharmacy technicians were reportedly employed.
GHOSPA described the situation as alarming, noting that less than three percent of the available and verified workforce had been absorbed.
“An intake of this scale cannot, by any measure, be considered responsive to the depth of the staffing crisis confronting our facilities,” the association stated.
The group also raised concerns about the recruitment process, pointing to a lack of transparency in how regional vacancies were allocated, as well as technical challenges encountered on the application portal. It noted that many applicants experienced persistent network failures and system instability, which may have prevented some qualified professionals from completing their applications.
Beyond recruitment concerns, GHOSPA warned of the impact of the staffing shortfall on healthcare delivery. It indicated that many hospitals and dispensaries continue to operate without sufficient pharmaceutical personnel, placing immense pressure on the few available staff.
The association further highlighted issues of burnout among pharmacists, with some reportedly unable to take annual or study leave due to being the sole professionals serving entire facilities.
While commending the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, for initiating the recruitment exercise, GHOSPA emphasized that the current effort should be viewed only as a starting point.
It has therefore called on the Ministry to significantly increase recruitment in subsequent phases, publish clear employment figures at each stage, and involve key stakeholders such as the Pharmacy Council and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana in future planning.
GHOSPA concluded that addressing the country’s pharmaceutical workforce gap is essential to improving medication safety, patient outcomes, and the overall quality of healthcare delivery in Ghana.
