Covid-19, healthcare and self-medication issues in resource limited-settings : findings and implications based on experiences in Ghana

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Sefah, Israel Abebrese and Essah, Darius Obeng and Haque, Mainul and Opanga, Sylvia A. and Kumar, Santosh and Chikowe, Ibrahim and Kibuule, Dan and Rampamba, Enos M and Kalungia, Aubrey C and Phuong, Thuy Nguyen Thi and Saleem, Zikria and Markovic-Pekovic, Vanda and Kurdi, Amanj and Godman, Brian (2021) Covid-19, healthcare and self-medication issues in resource limited-settings : findings and implications based on experiences in Ghana. Advances in Human Biology, 11. pp. 224-233. ISSN 2321-8568 (https://doi.org/10.4103/aihb.aihb_82_21)

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Abstract

Introduction and objectives: There have been concerns with the level of misinformation regarding COVID-19 and its treatment, drug shortages, as well as increased use and prices of antimalarials, antibiotics and hygiene products during the recent pandemic. Community pharmacists can play a significant role in disease prevention and treatment in the fight against COVID-19 including providing hygiene information and medicine availability across Africa and generally. Consequently, there is a need to review the role of community pharmacists in preventing unintended consequences during any pandemic as well as the impact of COVID-19 on the demand, availability and prices of suggested medicines for its management. Method: Multiple approach involving a qualitative review of the management of COVID-19 across countries coupled with a pilot study in Ghana among six purposely selected community pharmacists during the early stages of the pandemic assessing patterns of demand, availability and prices of medicines suggested for the management of COVID-19. Alongside this, pharmacists’ future role enhancing appropriate medicine use in Ghana and wider combined with the help of senior level co-authors. Results: The majority (five out of six) of pharmacists in Ghana reported increased demand for hydroxychloroquine, antibiotics and vitamins as immune boosters resulting in shortages with price increases particularly for antimalarials. Conclusion: The global lockdown had impacted on the supply and prices of medicines in Ghana similar to other countries. Community pharmacists can play a key role with encouraging safe medicine use, reducing self-purchasing of medicines and planning workflows during future pandemics including vaccinations. They can also help address potential misinformation and its consequences as well as the unintended consequences of pandemics including better management of non-communicable diseases.

ORCID iDs

Sefah, Israel Abebrese, Essah, Darius Obeng, Haque, Mainul, Opanga, Sylvia A., Kumar, Santosh, Chikowe, Ibrahim, Kibuule, Dan, Rampamba, Enos M, Kalungia, Aubrey C, Phuong, Thuy Nguyen Thi, Saleem, Zikria, Markovic-Pekovic, Vanda, Kurdi, Amanj ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5036-1988 and Godman, Brian;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)