Water pollution caused by illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, is significantly driving up the cost of water treatment for pharmaceutical companies in Ghana. This is making it more expensive for them to produce medicines and drugs, especially intravenous infusions that require high-quality water for manufacturing.
Dr. Samuel Kow Donkor, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), highlighted this concern at the 2024 annual general meeting of the PSGH in Kumasi. He emphasized that water pollution from galamsey activities is one of the most pressing threats to public health and the pharmaceutical industry. He warned that if this environmental damage continues, the country could face the dire reality of having to import water for local drug production.
“Ghana currently enjoys self-sufficiency in the local production of infusions, but illegal mining is threatening this achievement. All local manufacturers can meet the country’s demand for intravenous infusions, but they need clean water to do so. The ongoing environmental degradation may soon force us to import water to sustain our manufacturing industry,” Dr. Donkor stated.
The severity of water pollution has led to the need for expensive technologies to treat contaminated water, which in turn drives up the cost of medicines. A recent report revealed that small-scale mining operations in Ghana release an estimated five tons of mercury into the environment each year, further exacerbating the pollution.
“This toxic burden is unacceptable,” Dr. Donkor stressed, urging the government to take swift and decisive action to combat illegal mining. He warned that failure to act would not only harm public health but also jeopardize the future of Ghana’s pharmaceutical industry and the environment.
Dr. Donkor also noted that the destruction of forest reserves from mining activities threatens the existence of medicinal plants, making it difficult to integrate plant-based medicines into healthcare. He called for an immediate end to the environmental destruction to safeguard both natural resources and the local pharmaceutical sector.
The PSGH annual meeting, themed “Pharmacists: Meeting Primary Health Care Needs,” provided a platform for pharmacists to discuss issues related to their welfare and the production of effective medicines for both existing and emerging health challenges. The Society also proposed the formal integration of community pharmacies into Ghana’s primary healthcare system. By leveraging the widespread network of pharmacies, pharmacists believe they can enhance patient care and contribute to the sustainability of the healthcare system, helping achieve universal healthcare through patient-centered care and optimized use of medicines.
