In a firm move to safeguard public health and restore professional boundaries in healthcare delivery, the Upper East Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has sounded a strong warning to Over-The-Counter (OTC) medicine sellers who are illegally admitting and treating patients at their retail shops.
The caution, issued by the Acting Regional Head of the FDA, Mr. Abel Ndego, underscores growing concern over unsafe and unregulated clinical practices taking place in facilities licensed only for retail pharmaceutical sales.
“It is alarming to find some OTC shops administering intravenous drips and providing treatments well beyond their legal scope. These acts not only breach the law but endanger lives,” Mr. Ndego stated.
Speaking at a regulatory training workshop organized for pharmacy operators and OTC sellers in Bolgatanga, Mr. Ndego reiterated that no matter the qualifications of shop owners—whether trained nurses or doctors—the license they operate under does not permit clinical practice.
Dangerous Conflation of Roles
According to the FDA, the trend is particularly prevalent among newly licensed OTC medicine sellers who double as healthcare professionals, leading to a blurred line between informal retail and formal clinical care.
“Your facility is not a clinic. If you want to run a clinic, go through the right process. Until then, stay within your license,” Mr. Ndego said, stressing the importance of operating within legal boundaries outlined in the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).
The training aimed to educate participants on proper retail practices, legal obligations, and the consequences of regulatory violations—ranging from license revocation to possible criminal prosecution.
Regulatory Breaches Already Sanctioned
The FDA’s concerns are not theoretical. The Pharmacy Council of Ghana has already sanctioned two OTC medicine shops in the Talensi District, which were caught operating as unauthorized clinics. Regional Pharmacy Council Director, Mr. Alfred Nyantakyi, confirmed the closures.
“We verified reports of illegal clinical services in those shops. They were shut down, and disciplinary action is being pursued at the national level,” he told the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
Expired Drugs Also in the Spotlight
Beyond unauthorized treatments, the FDA also warned retailers against selling expired medicines, urging them to check the expiry dates on every consignment and remove expired stock from shelves immediately.
“Any item on a shelf is presumed for sale. If it’s expired, it becomes a threat to public safety,” Mr. Ndego noted.
OTC Association Pledges Cooperation
The Bolgatanga Municipal Chairman of the OTC Medicine Sellers Association, Mr. Ibrahim Wuni Mahama, welcomed the regulatory workshop and pledged the association’s support in stamping out malpractice.
While acknowledging that some members flout the rules, Mr. Mahama made it clear that the Association would not shield offenders, especially those who misuse their medical qualifications to operate outside legal limits.
“We have reported some of our own members to the Pharmacy Council. If anyone is arrested, the Association will not step in to defend them,” he emphasized.
