A new phase and era of pharmacy practice in Ghana has been established and held strongly in the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). In line with its vision, TTH provides quality affordable tertiary health care, training in health care and research.
The Pharmacy Directorate of TTH has been a model of admiration under the leadership of Dr. Hamidu Abdulai, the Director of Pharmacy. A renowned American footballer once said “In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is”. The man who is known to be pragmatic as the word itself is an embodiment of leadership with the aspiration of achieving universal health coverage for all people. Under his leadership the Pharmacy Directorate has seen massive transformation over a period of time. The Directorate contributes to major health outcomes through the provision of quality pharmaceutical care and training of various cadres of pharmacy personnel.
The Directorate became a Centre of excellence for pharmacy practice in Ghana owing to his unique leadership skills. His principles if adopted, would improve the quality of pharmacy practice in the country. One of his popular adages is “in challenges lie opportunities” And so one should look forward in order to overcome challenges and attain higher goals.
Noticeable among the transformations in the Pharmacy Directorate is the clinical pharmacy services rendered. Regardless of the staffing situation, Dr Hamidu Abdulai directs that every single patient be attended to by a pharmacist for every patient needs a pharmacist. Typically, pharmacists go on daily ward rounds where patients’ medications and records are reviewed, patients are monitored on various pharmacotherapies and counselled. Clinical pharmacy interventions are routinely documented in patients’ records by pharmacists. Pharmacists in TTH play an active role on the health care team to optimize patient care.
In TTH, pharmacists collaborate with Medical Doctors, Nurses, Anaesthetics, Laboratory Scientists and other health care workers in delivering health care in a friendly professional fashion. Dr Hamidu Abdulai stated that health care delivery is that of collaboration and should never be practiced competitively as this does not support the interest of the patient. This is unlike the past where pharmacy services were largely based on logistics management and dispensing. The relationship between Doctors and Pharmacists in the hospital is admirable and worthy of emulation. The patient is at the center of health care and healthy discussions are held by the multidisciplinary team. The presence of pharmacists on the ward promotes rational use of medicines tremendously as it leads to reduction of cost of pharmacotherapy thereby contributing to the sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
TTH Pharmacy Directorate has attained a state of excellence in Pharmacy training in Ghana under the leadership of Dr Hamidu Abdulai. One of the pharmacists mentioned “As a Pharm D pharmacist, I have had first-hand experience of the reception of the program at TTH and how this has supported patient care. When I was exposed to the ward for the first time, I was jittery, however, with his guidance, coaching and mentorship I became confident and resourceful to the clinical team. Many pharmacists were not confident working with the clinical team during ward rounds however, this became a thing of the past due to his mentorship and guidance. My colleagues who have experienced his leadership share similar views with me”.
If the virtues and customs of an institution are to be upheld and improved upon, then its future successors must be trained as such. Similarly, educating and supporting the youth is the best way to invest in a prosperous future. TTH Pharmacy Directorate is a major contributor and is highly recognized as such by tertiary academic institutions and other stakeholders in churning out high-yielding pharmacists in the country. It is little wonder that Tamale now has many Pharmacists as he is the source of attraction. He believes ‘knowledge is of no value unless it is put into practice’ and that’s exactly what he does.
Dr Hamidu Abdulai has facilitated the establishment of satellite pharmacies since 2005 in various clinical departments seeking to integrate the practice of pharmacy with the rest of the clinical team whilst bringing pharmaceutical services closer to clients. In 2016, Research and Pharmacovigilance units were setup to augment services in the hospital. Today, the Pharmacy Directorate of TTH has 18 units rendering various services to its cherished clients with the Drug Manufacturing unit, Urology, Anaesthesia and Oncology Pharmacies being the most recently established units.
He initiated and led pharmacist ward rounds activities with the clinical team believing that it is the functional unit of pharmacy practice, a practice which has contributed to making the TTH Pharmacy Directorate the center of excellence as popularly acclaimed by many institutions and key stakeholders.
The Directorate is a hub for clinical training of Residents from Ghana College of Pharmacists, final year Pharm D undergraduates from KNUST, B Pharm undergraduates and pharmacy Technicians.
Through the Drug and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) which was established in 2017, many relevant drug-use policies have been formulated for improvement in clinical practice in the hospital.
A new era of pharmacy practice is on and TTH and all are called upon to ensure that this practice is entrenched and sustained at the hospital.
